2009 Mazda RX-8 vs. 1973 Toyota Century
To start off, 2009 Mazda RX-8 is newer by 36 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Toyota Century. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Toyota Century would be higher. At 2,981 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Toyota Century is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Mazda RX-8 (228 HP @ 8200 RPM) has 101 more horse power than 1973 Toyota Century. (127 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 Mazda RX-8 should accelerate faster than 1973 Toyota Century. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Toyota Century weights approximately 275 kg more than 2009 Mazda RX-8.
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, 1973 Toyota Century (236 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 Mazda RX-8. (211 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1973 Toyota Century will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 Mazda RX-8. 1973 Toyota Century has automatic transmission and 2009 Mazda RX-8 has manual transmission. 2009 Mazda RX-8 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1973 Toyota Century will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 Mazda RX-8 | 1973 Toyota Century | |
| Make | Mazda | Toyota |
| Model | RX-8 | Century |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1973 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1306 cc | 2981 cc |
| Engine Type | dual-disk rotary | in-line |
| Horse Power | 228 HP | 127 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8200 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 211 Nm | 236 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1425 kg | 1700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4440 mm | 4990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2870 mm |
