1970 Ford Cortina vs. 1974 Renault 12

To start off, 1974 Renault 12 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,289 cc (4 cylinders), 1974 Renault 12 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Renault 12 (53 HP @ 5250 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (44 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Renault 12 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Renault 12 weights approximately 90 kg more than 1970 Ford Cortina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1970 Ford Cortina is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1970 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1974 Renault 12, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1974 Renault 12 (96 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 23 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (73 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1974 Renault 12 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina.

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