1972 Fiat 124 vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1978 Opel Senator is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Fiat 124. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Fiat 124 would be higher. At 2,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (180 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 64 more horse power than 1972 Fiat 124. (116 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1972 Fiat 124. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Senator weights approximately 529 kg more than 1972 Fiat 124. 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, 1978 Opel Senator (248 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 96 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Fiat 124. (152 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Fiat 124. 1978 Opel Senator has automatic transmission and 1972 Fiat 124 has manual transmission. 1972 Fiat 124 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Opel Senator will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Fiat 124 | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Fiat | Opel |
| Model | 124 | Senator |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1747 cc | 2969 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 180 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 152 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 95.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.2 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.8:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 966 kg | 1495 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1260 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2290 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 44 L |
