1980 Ford Escort vs. 2008 Honda Civic

To start off, 2008 Honda Civic is newer by 28 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 1,797 cc, 2008 Honda Civic is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 Honda Civic weights approximately 405 kg more than 1980 Ford Escort.

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, 2008 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, 2008 Honda Civic (174 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 114 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 2008 Honda Civic will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Escort. 2008 Honda Civic 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. 2008 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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