1978 Honda Prelude vs. 1984 Honda Civic
To start off, 1984 Honda Civic is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Honda Prelude. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Honda Prelude would be higher. At 1,750 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Honda Prelude is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Honda Civic (100 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1978 Honda Prelude. (89 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Honda Civic should accelerate faster than 1978 Honda Prelude. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Honda Prelude weights approximately 90 kg more than 1984 Honda Civic.
Both vehicles are front wheel drive (FWD). Which offers better traction when its slippery than rear 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, 1978 Honda Prelude (141 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 10 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Honda Civic. (131 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1978 Honda Prelude will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Honda Prelude | 1984 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Honda | Honda |
| Model | Prelude | Civic |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1750 cc | 1488 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 131 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 77 mm | 74 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 94 mm | 86.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Front |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 890 kg | 800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4100 mm | 3760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1630 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2330 mm | 2210 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 61 L |
