1977 Toyota Carina vs. 1981 Reliant Scimitar
To start off, 1981 Reliant Scimitar is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1977 Toyota Carina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1977 Toyota Carina would be higher. At 2,790 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Reliant Scimitar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Reliant Scimitar (133 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1977 Toyota Carina. (102 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Reliant Scimitar should accelerate faster than 1977 Toyota Carina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Reliant Scimitar weights approximately 305 kg more than 1977 Toyota Carina. 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, 1981 Reliant Scimitar (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 59 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 Toyota Carina. (147 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1981 Reliant Scimitar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 Toyota Carina. 1981 Reliant Scimitar has automatic transmission and 1977 Toyota Carina has manual transmission. 1977 Toyota Carina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Reliant Scimitar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1977 Toyota Carina | 1981 Reliant Scimitar | |
| Make | Toyota | Reliant |
| Model | Carina | Scimitar |
| Year Released | 1977 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1586 cc | 2790 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 102 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 85 mm | 93 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 995 kg | 1300 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4240 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2510 mm | 2640 mm |
