1982 Ford Cortina vs. 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata
To start off, 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1982 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1982 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,840 cc (4 cylinders), 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata (129 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 69 more horse power than 1982 Ford Cortina. (60 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata should accelerate faster than 1982 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Ford Cortina weights approximately 10 kg more than 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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, 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata (152 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 60 more torque (in Nm) than 1982 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1982 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1982 Ford Cortina | 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Cortina | MX-5 Miata |
| Year Released | 1982 | 1994 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1294 cc | 1840 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 60 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 152 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 83 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 3960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1240 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2270 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 48 L |
