1978 Ford Escort vs. 1995 Volvo 850

To start off, 1995 Volvo 850 is newer by 17 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 1,982 cc (5 cylinders), 1995 Volvo 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 Volvo 850 (124 HP @ 6100 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1978 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1995 Volvo 850 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1995 Volvo 850 weights approximately 515 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, 1995 Volvo 850, 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, 1995 Volvo 850 (170 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 110 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1995 Volvo 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Escort.

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