1996 Mazda RX-7 vs. 1989 Nissan Santana

To start off, 1996 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1989 Nissan Santana. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1989 Nissan Santana would be higher. At 2,616 cc, 1996 Mazda RX-7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Mazda RX-7 (238 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 145 more horse power than 1989 Nissan Santana. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Mazda RX-7 should accelerate faster than 1989 Nissan Santana. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Mazda RX-7 weights approximately 236 kg more than 1989 Nissan Santana. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1996 Mazda RX-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 Mazda RX-7. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1989 Nissan Santana, 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 Mazda RX-7 (296 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 154 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Nissan Santana. (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1996 Mazda RX-7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Nissan Santana.

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