1978 Austin Marina vs. 1979 Dodge Mirada
To start off, 1979 Dodge Mirada is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Austin Marina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Austin Marina would be higher. At 5,209 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Dodge Mirada is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Dodge Mirada (145 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 86 more horse power than 1978 Austin Marina. (59 HP @ 5250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Dodge Mirada should accelerate faster than 1978 Austin Marina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Dodge Mirada weights approximately 818 kg more than 1978 Austin Marina. 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, 1979 Dodge Mirada (343 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 241 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Austin Marina. (102 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1979 Dodge Mirada will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Austin Marina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Austin Marina | 1979 Dodge Mirada | |
| Make | Austin | Dodge |
| Model | Marina | Mirada |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1275 cc | 5209 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 102 Nm | 343 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 70.6 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81.3 mm | 84.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 882 kg | 1700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4230 mm | 5330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2870 mm |
