1985 Caterham 1700 vs. 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair
To start off, 1985 Caterham 1700 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair would be higher. At 2,554 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Caterham 1700 (135 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair. (111 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Caterham 1700 should accelerate faster than 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair weights approximately 847 kg more than 1985 Caterham 1700.
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, 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 41 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Caterham 1700. (165 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Caterham 1700. 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair has automatic transmission and 1985 Caterham 1700 has manual transmission. 1985 Caterham 1700 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Caterham 1700 | 1980 Mitsubishi Debonair | |
| Make | Caterham | Mitsubishi |
| Model | 1700 | Debonair |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1692 cc | 2554 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 543 kg | 1390 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3400 mm | 4680 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1090 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2700 mm |
