1978 Austin Marina vs. 1995 Plymouth Neon
To start off, 1995 Plymouth Neon is newer by 17 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 1,996 cc (4 cylinders), 1995 Plymouth Neon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 Plymouth Neon (131 HP @ 5850 RPM) has 72 more horse power than 1978 Austin Marina. (59 HP @ 5250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1995 Plymouth Neon should accelerate faster than 1978 Austin Marina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1995 Plymouth Neon weights approximately 227 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.
Because 1978 Austin Marina 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 1978 Austin Marina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1995 Plymouth Neon, 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, 1995 Plymouth Neon (174 Nm @ 4950 RPM) has 72 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Austin Marina. (102 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1995 Plymouth Neon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Austin Marina. 1995 Plymouth Neon 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. 1995 Plymouth Neon will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Austin Marina | 1995 Plymouth Neon | |
| Make | Austin | Plymouth |
| Model | Marina | Neon |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1995 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1275 cc | 1996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 131 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 5850 RPM |
| Torque | 102 Nm | 174 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 4950 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 882 kg | 1109 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4230 mm | 4370 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2650 mm |
