1979 Ford Cortina vs. 1984 Nissan Santana

To start off, 1984 Nissan Santana is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1984 Nissan Santana is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Nissan Santana (67 HP) has 8 more horse power than 1979 Ford Cortina. (59 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Nissan Santana should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1984 Nissan Santana weights approximately 90 kg more than 1979 Ford Cortina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1979 Ford Cortina 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 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1984 Nissan Santana, 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, 1984 Nissan Santana (132 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 40 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1984 Nissan Santana will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ford Cortina.

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