1985 Caterham 1700 vs. 2013 Smart Fortwo
To start off, 2013 Smart Fortwo is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Caterham 1700. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Caterham 1700 would be higher. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2013 Smart Fortwo weights approximately 297 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, 1985 Caterham 1700 (165 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 73 more torque (in Nm) than 2013 Smart Fortwo. (92 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1985 Caterham 1700 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2013 Smart Fortwo. 2013 Smart Fortwo 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. 2013 Smart Fortwo will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Caterham 1700 | 2013 Smart Fortwo | |
| Make | Caterham | Smart |
| Model | 1700 | Fortwo |
| Year Released | 1985 | 2013 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 3 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 0 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 83.3 mm | 72 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77.6 mm | 81 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 5-speed automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 543 kg | 840 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3400 mm | 2695 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1559 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1090 mm | 1542 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 1867 mm |
