1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1989 Honda Civic
To start off, 1989 Honda Civic 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 81 more horse power than 1989 Honda Civic. (90 HP @ 6300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1989 Honda Civic.
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 Civic, 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 252 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Honda Civic. (114 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Honda Civic. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1989 Honda Civic has manual transmission. 1989 Honda Civic 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 Civic | |
| Make | Bristol | Honda |
| Model | 412 | Civic |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 1396 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6300 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 114 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4240 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1370 mm |
