2003 Caterham 7 vs. 1980 Opel Commodore
To start off, 2003 Caterham 7 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Opel Commodore. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Opel Commodore would be higher. At 2,488 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Opel Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Caterham 7 (160 HP @ 7500 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1980 Opel Commodore. (115 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1980 Opel Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Opel Commodore weights approximately 700 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, 1980 Opel Commodore (179 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Caterham 7. (176 Nm @ 5750 RPM). This means 1980 Opel Commodore will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
| 2003 Caterham 7 | 1980 Opel Commodore | |
| Make | Caterham | Opel |
| Model | 7 | Commodore |
| Year Released | 2003 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1794 cc | 2488 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 176 Nm | 179 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5750 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 87 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89.3 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 500 kg | 1200 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4740 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2670 mm |
