2004 Caterham 7 vs. 1981 Toyota Celica
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Toyota Celica. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Toyota Celica 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 144 more horse power than 1981 Toyota Celica. (107 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1981 Toyota Celica. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Toyota Celica weights approximately 640 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 111 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Toyota Celica. (147 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Toyota Celica. 1981 Toyota Celica 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. 1981 Toyota Celica will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Caterham 7 | 1981 Toyota Celica | |
| Make | Caterham | Toyota |
| Model | 7 | Celica |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1997 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 107 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 258 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4460 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2510 mm |
