1974 Lada Riva 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 Lada Riva. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Lada Riva would be higher. At 1,979 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (115 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 43 more horse power than 1974 Lada Riva. (72 HP @ 5600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1974 Lada Riva. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Senator weights approximately 278 kg more than 1974 Lada Riva. 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 (160 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 64 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Lada Riva. (96 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Lada Riva.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Lada Riva | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Lada | Opel |
| Model | Riva | Senator |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1294 cc | 1979 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 96 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3400 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 79 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Top Speed | 135 km/hour | 180 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1057 kg | 1335 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4130 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2420 mm | 2690 mm |
