1978 Ford Escort vs. 1986 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1986 Opel Rekord is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Escort would be higher. At 2,196 cc (4 cylinders), 1986 Opel Rekord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 Opel Rekord (114 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 69 more horse power than 1978 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1986 Opel Rekord should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1986 Opel Rekord weights approximately 431 kg more than 1978 Ford Escort. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1986 Opel Rekord (182 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 122 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1986 Opel Rekord will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Escort. 1986 Opel Rekord has automatic transmission and 1978 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1978 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1986 Opel Rekord will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Escort | 1986 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Ford | Opel |
| Model | Escort | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1986 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 939 cc | 2196 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 45 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 60 Nm | 182 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 875 kg | 1306 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4660 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1600 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2600 mm |
