1978 Opel Senator vs. 1989 Reliant Scimitar
To start off, 1989 Reliant Scimitar is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Senator. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Senator would be higher. At 1,977 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (115 HP) has 40 more horse power than 1989 Reliant Scimitar. (75 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1989 Reliant Scimitar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Senator weights approximately 495 kg more than 1989 Reliant Scimitar. 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, 1978 Opel Senator (160 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 51 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Reliant Scimitar. (109 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Reliant Scimitar. 1978 Opel Senator has automatic transmission and 1989 Reliant Scimitar has manual transmission. 1989 Reliant Scimitar will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Opel Senator will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Opel Senator | 1989 Reliant Scimitar | |
| Make | Opel | Reliant |
| Model | Senator | Scimitar |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1977 cc | 1390 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 75 HP |
| Torque | 160 Nm | 109 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 69.8 mm | 74 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.4:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1335 kg | 840 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4850 mm | 3890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1250 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2140 mm |
