1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1998 Kia Potentia
To start off, 1998 Kia Potentia is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1996 Caterham 7. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1996 Caterham 7 would be higher. At 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1998 Kia Potentia is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 138 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Kia Potentia weights approximately 987 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, 1998 Kia Potentia (181 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Caterham 7. (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1998 Kia Potentia will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Caterham 7. 1998 Kia Potentia has automatic transmission and 1996 Caterham 7 has manual transmission. 1996 Caterham 7 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1998 Kia Potentia will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1996 Caterham 7 | 1998 Kia Potentia | |
Make | Caterham | Kia |
Model | 7 | Potentia |
Year Released | 1996 | 1998 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1998 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 138 HP | 138 HP |
Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 156 Nm | 181 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 1465 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4960 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1730 mm |
Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1440 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2720 mm |