1988 Toyota Carina vs. 1981 Nissan Stanza

To start off, 1988 Toyota Carina is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Stanza. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Stanza would be higher. At 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Toyota Carina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Toyota Carina (158 HP @ 6600 RPM) has 77 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Stanza. (81 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Toyota Carina should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Stanza. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Toyota Carina weights approximately 152 kg more than 1981 Nissan Stanza. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Both vehicles are front wheel drive (FWD). Which offers better traction when its slippery than rear 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, 1988 Toyota Carina (190 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 60 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Stanza. (130 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1988 Toyota Carina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Stanza. 1981 Nissan Stanza has automatic transmission and 1988 Toyota Carina has manual transmission. 1988 Toyota Carina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Nissan Stanza will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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