1978 Ford Escort vs. 1990 Nissan Santana

To start off, 1990 Nissan Santana is newer by 12 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 1,779 cc (4 cylinders), 1990 Nissan Santana is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Nissan Santana (93 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1978 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Nissan Santana should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Nissan Santana weights approximately 160 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.

Because 1978 Ford Escort 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 Ford Escort. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1990 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, 1990 Nissan Santana (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 82 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1990 Nissan Santana will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Escort.

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