1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1971 Opel Kadett
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Opel Kadett. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Opel Kadett would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1996 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1971 Opel Kadett. (59 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1971 Opel Kadett. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Opel Kadett weights approximately 282 kg more than 1996 Caterham 7.
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, 1996 Caterham 7 (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 68 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Opel Kadett. (88 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1996 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Opel Kadett.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Caterham 7 | 1971 Opel Kadett | |
| Make | Caterham | Opel |
| Model | 7 | Kadett |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1196 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 88 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 760 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4190 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2430 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 36 L | 40 L |
