1978 Austin Marina vs. 2004 Caterham 7
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 26 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 1,997 cc (4 cylinders), 2004 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 192 more horse power than 1978 Austin Marina. (59 HP @ 5250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1978 Austin Marina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Austin Marina weights approximately 412 kg more than 2004 Caterham 7.
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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 156 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Austin Marina. (102 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Austin Marina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Austin Marina | 2004 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | Austin | Caterham |
| Model | Marina | 7 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 2004 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1275 cc | 1997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 251 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 8000 RPM |
| Torque | 102 Nm | 258 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 882 kg | 470 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4230 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2230 mm |
