1979 Mazda 121 vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1979 Mazda 121 is newer by 1 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 2,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (170 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 80 more horse power than 1979 Mazda 121. (90 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1979 Mazda 121. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Senator weights approximately 206 kg more than 1979 Mazda 121. 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 (248 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 88 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mazda 121. (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mazda 121.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Mazda 121 | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Mazda | Opel |
| Model | 121 | Senator |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 2969 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 170 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 160 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 98 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 6.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1134 kg | 1340 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4510 mm | 4820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2740 mm |
