1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1975 Honda Civic
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 Honda Civic. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 Honda Civic 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) has 89 more horse power than 1975 Honda Civic. (49 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1975 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 Honda Civic weights approximately 200 kg more than 1996 Caterham 7.
Because 1996 Caterham 7 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 1996 Caterham 7. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1975 Honda Civic, 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, 1996 Caterham 7 (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 76 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Honda Civic. (80 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1996 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Caterham 7 | 1975 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Caterham | Honda |
| Model | 7 | Civic |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1975 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1238 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 49 HP |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 80 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 678 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1510 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2290 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 36 L | 42 L |
