1974 Fiat 500 vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1978 Opel Senator is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Fiat 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Fiat 500 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 162 more horse power than 1974 Fiat 500. (18 HP @ 4600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1974 Fiat 500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Senator weights approximately 979 kg more than 1974 Fiat 500. 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 221 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Fiat 500. (27 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Fiat 500. 1978 Opel Senator has automatic transmission and 1974 Fiat 500 has manual transmission. 1974 Fiat 500 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:
| 1974 Fiat 500 | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Fiat | Opel |
| Model | 500 | Senator |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 499 cc | 2969 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 18 HP | 180 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 27 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 67.4 mm | 95.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 516 kg | 1495 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 2980 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1330 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1850 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 22 L | 44 L |
