1989 Holden Nova vs. 1980 Toyota Carina

To start off, 1989 Holden Nova is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Toyota Carina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Toyota Carina would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Toyota Carina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Holden Nova (90 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1980 Toyota Carina. (75 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Holden Nova should accelerate faster than 1980 Toyota Carina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Holden Nova weights approximately 24 kg more than 1980 Toyota Carina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1980 Toyota Carina is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1980 Toyota Carina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1989 Holden Nova, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1989 Holden Nova (135 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Toyota Carina. (115 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1989 Holden Nova will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Toyota Carina. 1980 Toyota Carina has automatic transmission and 1989 Holden Nova has manual transmission. 1989 Holden Nova will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Toyota Carina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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