1978 Ford Escort vs. 1987 Opel Senator
To start off, 1987 Opel Senator is newer by 9 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 2,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1987 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Opel Senator (178 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 133 more horse power than 1978 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Opel Senator weights approximately 626 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, 1987 Opel Senator (240 Nm @ 4400 RPM) has 180 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1987 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Escort. 1987 Opel Senator 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. 1987 Opel Senator will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Escort | 1987 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Ford | Opel |
| Model | Escort | Senator |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 938 cc | 2969 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 45 HP | 178 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 60 Nm | 240 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 910 kg | 1536 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 53 L | 70 L |
