1997 Caterham C21 vs. 1978 Toyota Corona
To start off, 1997 Caterham C21 is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Toyota Corona. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Toyota Corona would be higher. At 2,189 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Toyota Corona is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Caterham C21 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 42 more horse power than 1978 Toyota Corona. (96 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1978 Toyota Corona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Toyota Corona weights approximately 496 kg more than 1997 Caterham C21.
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, 1978 Toyota Corona (163 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 10 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 Caterham C21. (153 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1978 Toyota Corona will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 Caterham C21. 1978 Toyota Corona has automatic transmission and 1997 Caterham C21 has manual transmission. 1997 Caterham C21 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Toyota Corona will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Caterham C21 | 1978 Toyota Corona | |
| Make | Caterham | Toyota |
| Model | C21 | Corona |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 2189 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 153 Nm | 163 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 654 kg | 1150 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2530 mm |
