1973 Fiat 850 vs. 1978 Volvo 343
To start off, 1978 Volvo 343 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Fiat 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Fiat 850 would be higher. At 1,397 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Volvo 343 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Volvo 343 (70 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1973 Fiat 850. (51 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Volvo 343 should accelerate faster than 1973 Fiat 850.
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 Volvo 343 (109 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 40 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Fiat 850. (69 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1978 Volvo 343 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Fiat 850.
Compare all specifications:
1973 Fiat 850 | 1978 Volvo 343 | |
Make | Fiat | Volvo |
Model | 850 | 343 |
Year Released | 1973 | 1978 |
Engine Position | Rear | Front |
Engine Size | 847 cc | 1397 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 51 HP | 70 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 69 Nm | 109 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Vehicle Length | 3660 mm | 4210 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1510 mm | 1670 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1310 mm | 1400 mm |