1978 Mazda 818 vs. 1969 Riley Kestrel

To start off, 1978 Mazda 818 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Riley Kestrel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Riley Kestrel would be higher. At 1,275 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Riley Kestrel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 818 (68 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1969 Riley Kestrel. (64 HP @ 5750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 818 should accelerate faster than 1969 Riley Kestrel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 818 weights approximately 90 kg more than 1969 Riley Kestrel. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1978 Mazda 818 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 Mazda 818. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1969 Riley Kestrel, 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, 1969 Riley Kestrel (96 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 818. (92 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1969 Riley Kestrel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 818.

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