2000 Caterham 7 vs. 1980 Ford Cortina
To start off, 2000 Caterham 7 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,795 cc (4 cylinders), 2000 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2000 Caterham 7 (230 HP @ 8600 RPM) has 171 more horse power than 1980 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2000 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Ford Cortina weights approximately 542 kg more than 2000 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, 2000 Caterham 7 (210 Nm @ 7200 RPM) has 118 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2000 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 2000 Caterham 7 | 1980 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 7 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 2000 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1795 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 230 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8600 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Torque | 210 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 7200 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89.3 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.5:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 460 kg | 1002 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2590 mm |
