2004 Caterham 7 vs. 1974 Lada Riva
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Lada Riva. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Lada Riva would be higher. At 1,997 cc (4 cylinders), 2004 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 179 more horse power than 1974 Lada Riva. (72 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1974 Lada Riva. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Lada Riva weights approximately 587 kg more than 2004 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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 162 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Lada Riva. (96 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Lada Riva.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Caterham 7 | 1974 Lada Riva | |
| Make | Caterham | Lada |
| Model | 7 | Riva |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1997 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 72 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 258 Nm | 96 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Top Speed | 241 km/hour | 135 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 1057 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4130 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2420 mm |
