1980 Ford Escort vs. 1984 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1984 Lancia Beta is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,585 cc (4 cylinders), 1984 Lancia Beta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Lancia Beta (101 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 56 more horse power than 1980 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1984 Lancia Beta weights approximately 161 kg more than 1980 Ford Escort. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1980 Ford Escort 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 1980 Ford Escort. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1984 Lancia Beta, 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 Lancia Beta (134 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 74 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1984 Lancia Beta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Escort. 1984 Lancia Beta has automatic transmission and 1980 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1980 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1984 Lancia Beta will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Ford Escort | 1984 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Ford | Lancia |
| Model | Escort | Beta |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 939 cc | 1585 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 45 HP | 101 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 60 Nm | 134 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 875 kg | 1036 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1600 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2550 mm |
