1978 Opel Senator vs. 1998 Panoz Esperante
To start off, 1998 Panoz Esperante is newer by 20 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 4,599 cc (8 cylinders), 1998 Panoz Esperante is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Panoz Esperante (317 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 181 more horse power than 1978 Opel Senator. (136 HP @ 5600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1998 Panoz Esperante should accelerate faster than 1978 Opel Senator. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Panoz Esperante weights approximately 480 kg more than 1978 Opel Senator. 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, 1998 Panoz Esperante (426 Nm @ 4750 RPM) has 240 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Opel Senator. (186 Nm @ 4600 RPM). This means 1998 Panoz Esperante will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Opel Senator. 1978 Opel Senator has automatic transmission and 1998 Panoz Esperante has manual transmission. 1998 Panoz Esperante 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 | 1998 Panoz Esperante | |
| Make | Opel | Panoz |
| Model | Senator | Esperante |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1998 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2488 cc | 4599 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 136 HP | 317 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 186 Nm | 426 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4600 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 87 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 69.8 mm | 90 mm |
| Top Speed | 190 km/hour | 250 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 790 kg | 1270 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4850 mm | 4480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2720 mm |
