1997 Caterham C21 vs. 1985 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 1997 Caterham C21 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Toyota Corolla. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Toyota Corolla would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1997 Caterham C21 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Caterham C21 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 16 more horse power than 1985 Toyota Corolla. (122 HP @ 6600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1985 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Toyota Corolla weights approximately 336 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, 1997 Caterham C21 (153 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Toyota Corolla. (140 Nm @ 5200 RPM). This means 1997 Caterham C21 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Toyota Corolla.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Caterham C21 | 1985 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Caterham | Toyota |
| Model | C21 | Corolla |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1587 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 122 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 6600 RPM |
| Torque | 153 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 654 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4140 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2410 mm |
