1978 Fiat 131 vs. 1984 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1984 Lancia Beta is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Fiat 131. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Fiat 131 would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Lancia Beta (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 131. (59 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 140 kg more than 1984 Lancia Beta.
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, 1984 Lancia Beta (165 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 52 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 131. (113 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1984 Lancia Beta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 131.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Fiat 131 | 1984 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Fiat | Lancia |
| Model | 131 | Beta |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1995 cc | 1994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 113 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 88 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 22.0:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1180 kg | 1040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2310 mm |
