1979 Fiat 131 vs. 2012 Honda Civic

To start off, 2012 Honda Civic is newer by 33 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Fiat 131. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Fiat 131 would be higher. At 2,443 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Honda Civic (140 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 69 more horse power than 1979 Fiat 131. (71 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Honda Civic should accelerate faster than 1979 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Fiat 131 weights approximately 27 kg more than 2012 Honda Civic.

Because 1979 Fiat 131 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 1979 Fiat 131. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2012 Honda Civic, 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, 2012 Honda Civic (173 Nm @ 4300 RPM) has 21 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Fiat 131. (152 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 2012 Honda Civic will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Fiat 131. 2012 Honda Civic has automatic transmission and 1979 Fiat 131 has manual transmission. 1979 Fiat 131 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2012 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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