1976 Ford Cortina vs. 2012 Honda Civic

To start off, 2012 Honda Civic is newer by 36 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,800 cc (4 cylinders), 2012 Honda Civic is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Honda Civic (140 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 67 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (73 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Honda Civic should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2012 Honda Civic weights approximately 181 kg more than 1976 Ford Cortina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1976 Ford Cortina is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1976 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2012 Honda Civic, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 2012 Honda Civic (173 Nm @ 4300 RPM) has 56 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (117 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 2012 Honda Civic will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.

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