1988 Fiat 126 vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1988 Fiat 126 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Senator. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Senator would be higher. At 2,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (177 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 151 more horse power than 1988 Fiat 126. (26 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1988 Fiat 126. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Senator weights approximately 837 kg more than 1988 Fiat 126. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1978 Opel Senator (248 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 199 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Fiat 126. (49 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Fiat 126.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Fiat 126 | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Fiat | Opel |
| Model | 126 | Senator |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 703 cc | 2969 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 26 HP | 177 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 49 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 116 km/hour | 209 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 648 kg | 1485 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1380 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1850 mm | 2670 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 70 L |
