2004 Caterham 7 vs. 1979 Volvo 343
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Volvo 343. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Volvo 343 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 181 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 343. (70 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 343. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Volvo 343 weights approximately 520 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 150 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 343. (108 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 343. 1979 Volvo 343 has automatic transmission and 2004 Caterham 7 has manual transmission. 2004 Caterham 7 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Volvo 343 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Caterham 7 | 1979 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | Caterham | Volvo |
| Model | 7 | 343 |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1997 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 258 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1400 mm |
