1978 Austin Marina vs. 1980 Holden Commodore
To start off, 1980 Holden Commodore is newer by 2 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 4,142 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Holden Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Holden Commodore (134 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 75 more horse power than 1978 Austin Marina. (59 HP @ 5250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Holden Commodore should accelerate faster than 1978 Austin Marina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Holden Commodore weights approximately 474 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, 1980 Holden Commodore (269 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 167 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Austin Marina. (102 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1980 Holden Commodore will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Austin Marina. 1980 Holden Commodore has automatic transmission and 1978 Austin Marina has manual transmission. 1978 Austin Marina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Holden Commodore will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Austin Marina | 1980 Holden Commodore | |
| Make | Austin | Holden |
| Model | Marina | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1275 cc | 4142 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 102 Nm | 269 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 882 kg | 1356 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4230 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2670 mm |
