1970 Opel Ascona vs. 1980 Reliant Scimitar
To start off, 1980 Reliant Scimitar is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Opel Ascona. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Opel Ascona would be higher. At 2,792 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Reliant Scimitar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Reliant Scimitar (133 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 54 more horse power than 1970 Opel Ascona. (79 HP @ 5200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Reliant Scimitar should accelerate faster than 1970 Opel Ascona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Reliant Scimitar weights approximately 380 kg more than 1970 Opel Ascona. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. 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, 1980 Reliant Scimitar (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 86 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Opel Ascona. (120 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1980 Reliant Scimitar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Opel Ascona. 1980 Reliant Scimitar has automatic transmission and 1970 Opel Ascona has manual transmission. 1970 Opel Ascona will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Reliant Scimitar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Opel Ascona | 1980 Reliant Scimitar | |
| Make | Opel | Reliant |
| Model | Ascona | Scimitar |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1980 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1583 cc | 2792 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 79 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 120 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 85 mm | 93 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 69.8 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 920 kg | 1300 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4140 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2680 mm | 2640 mm |
