1980 Fiat 131 vs. 1978 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1980 Fiat 131 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Rekord. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Rekord would be higher. At 1,978 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Opel Rekord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Rekord (100 HP) has 36 more horse power than 1980 Fiat 131. (64 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Rekord should accelerate faster than 1980 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Rekord weights approximately 100 kg more than 1980 Fiat 131. 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 Rekord (148 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 46 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Fiat 131. (102 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Rekord will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Fiat 131.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Fiat 131 | 1978 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Fiat | Opel |
| Model | 131 | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1295 cc | 1978 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 64 HP | 100 HP |
| Torque | 102 Nm | 148 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 76 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71.5 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1020 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4600 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2670 mm |
