1997 Mazda RX-7 vs. 1980 Toyota Carina
To start off, 1997 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Toyota Carina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Toyota Carina would be higher. At 2,616 cc, 1997 Mazda RX-7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Mazda RX-7 (197 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 122 more horse power than 1980 Toyota Carina. (75 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Mazda RX-7 should accelerate faster than 1980 Toyota Carina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Mazda RX-7 weights approximately 314 kg more than 1980 Toyota Carina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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 Mazda RX-7 (271 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 156 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Toyota Carina. (115 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1997 Mazda RX-7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Toyota Carina. 1980 Toyota Carina has automatic transmission and 1997 Mazda RX-7 has manual transmission. 1997 Mazda RX-7 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Toyota Carina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Mazda RX-7 | 1980 Toyota Carina | |
| Make | Mazda | Toyota |
| Model | RX-7 | Carina |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2616 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Type | dual-disk rotary | in-line |
| Horse Power | 197 HP | 75 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 271 Nm | 115 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1310 kg | 996 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1240 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2430 mm | 2510 mm |
