1981 Ford Capri vs. 1978 Fiat 131
To start off, 1981 Ford Capri is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Fiat 131. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Fiat 131 would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ford Capri (67 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 8 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 131. (59 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ford Capri should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 170 kg more than 1981 Ford Capri.
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, 1981 Ford Capri (115 Nm @ 2700 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 131. (113 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1981 Ford Capri will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 131. 1978 Fiat 131 has automatic transmission and 1981 Ford Capri has manual transmission. 1981 Ford Capri will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Fiat 131 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Capri | 1978 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Ford | Fiat |
| Model | Capri | 131 |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1593 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 67 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 115 Nm | 113 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 87.8 mm | 88 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 82 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.2:1 | 22.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1010 kg | 1180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2500 mm |
