1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1987 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1987 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1987 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,088 cc (6 cylinders), 1987 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1987 Ford Fairlane. (137 HP @ 3750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1987 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 1152 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, 1987 Ford Fairlane (304 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 148 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Caterham 7. (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1987 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Caterham 7 | 1987 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 7 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 4088 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 137 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 1630 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2950 mm |
