1978 Cadillac Seville vs. 1988 Lancia Thema
To start off, 1988 Lancia Thema is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Cadillac Seville. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Cadillac Seville would be higher. At 5,735 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Cadillac Seville is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lancia Thema (163 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1978 Cadillac Seville. (123 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lancia Thema should accelerate faster than 1978 Cadillac Seville. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Cadillac Seville weights approximately 580 kg more than 1988 Lancia Thema.
Because 1978 Cadillac Seville 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 Cadillac Seville. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1988 Lancia Thema, 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 Cadillac Seville (304 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 79 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Lancia Thema. (225 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1978 Cadillac Seville will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Lancia Thema. 1978 Cadillac Seville has automatic transmission and 1988 Lancia Thema has manual transmission. 1988 Lancia Thema will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Cadillac Seville will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Cadillac Seville | 1988 Lancia Thema | |
| Make | Cadillac | Lancia |
| Model | Seville | Thema |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1988 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Station Wagon |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5735 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 123 HP | 163 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 304 Nm | 225 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 103 mm | 84.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86 mm | 90 mm |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1890 kg | 1310 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5190 mm | 4600 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1830 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2670 mm |
