2003 Caterham 7 vs. 1978 Ford Escort
To start off, 2003 Caterham 7 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2003 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Caterham 7 (200 HP @ 7500 RPM) has 155 more horse power than 1978 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Escort weights approximately 420 kg more than 2003 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, 2003 Caterham 7 (210 Nm @ 5750 RPM) has 150 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 2003 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 2003 Caterham 7 | 1978 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 7 | Escort |
| Year Released | 2003 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 938 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 200 HP | 45 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 210 Nm | 60 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5750 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 490 kg | 910 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1570 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2410 mm |
