1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1987 Ford Sierra
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 Sierra. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1987 Ford Sierra would be higher. At 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Ford Sierra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1987 Ford Sierra. (104 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1987 Ford Sierra. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Ford Sierra weights approximately 667 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 Sierra (160 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Caterham 7. (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1987 Ford Sierra 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 Sierra | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 7 | Sierra |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 104 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 1145 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2620 mm |
