1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1989 Honda Accord

To start off, 1989 Honda Accord is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Bristol 412. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Bristol 412 would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Bristol 412 (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1989 Honda Accord. (133 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1989 Honda Accord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 430 kg more than 1989 Honda Accord. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1978 Bristol 412 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 Bristol 412. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1989 Honda Accord, 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, 1978 Bristol 412 (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 187 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Honda Accord. (179 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Honda Accord. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1989 Honda Accord has manual transmission. 1989 Honda Accord will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

1978 Bristol 412 1989 Honda Accord
Make Bristol Honda
Model 412 Accord
Year Released 1978 1989
Engine Position Front Front
Engine Size 5898 cc 1997 cc
Engine Cylinders 8 cylinders 4 cylinders
Engine Type V in-line
Horse Power 171 HP 133 HP
Engine RPM 4000 RPM 5300 RPM
Torque 366 Nm 179 Nm
Torque RPM 2000 RPM 5000 RPM
Engine Bore Size 101.6 mm 85 mm
Engine Stroke Size 90.9 mm 88 mm
Engine Compression Ratio 8.0:1 9.5:1
Drive Type Rear Front
Transmission Type Automatic Manual
Number of Seats 4 seats 5 seats
Vehicle Weight 1690 kg 1260 kg
Vehicle Length 4950 mm 4690 mm
Vehicle Width 1780 mm 1700 mm
Vehicle Height 1450 mm 1400 mm
Wheelbase Size 2910 mm 2730 mm