1978 Alpine A 310 vs. 1979 Fiat 131
To start off, 1979 Fiat 131 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Alpine A 310. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Alpine A 310 would be higher. At 2,664 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Alpine A 310 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Alpine A 310 (148 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 77 more horse power than 1979 Fiat 131. (71 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Alpine A 310 should accelerate faster than 1979 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Fiat 131 weights approximately 226 kg more than 1978 Alpine A 310.
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 Alpine A 310 (208 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 56 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Fiat 131. (152 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1978 Alpine A 310 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Fiat 131. 1979 Fiat 131 has automatic transmission and 1978 Alpine A 310 has manual transmission. 1978 Alpine A 310 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Fiat 131 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Alpine A 310 | 1979 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Alpine | Fiat |
| Model | A 310 | 131 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 2664 cc | 2443 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 71 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 208 Nm | 152 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 88 mm | 93 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 73 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.1:1 | 22.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 984 kg | 1210 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4190 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2280 mm | 2500 mm |
