1978 Fiat 131 vs. 1984 Nissan Santana

To start off, 1984 Nissan Santana 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 1,994 cc (5 cylinders), 1984 Nissan Santana is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Nissan Santana (102 HP) has 49 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 131. (53 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Nissan Santana should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1984 Nissan Santana weights approximately 180 kg more than 1978 Fiat 131. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1978 Fiat 131 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 Fiat 131. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1984 Nissan Santana, 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, 1984 Nissan Santana (152 Nm @ 4400 RPM) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 131. (95 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1984 Nissan Santana will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 131. 1984 Nissan Santana has automatic transmission and 1978 Fiat 131 has manual transmission. 1978 Fiat 131 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1984 Nissan Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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