2012 Honda Civic vs. 1978 Nissan Skyline

To start off, 2012 Honda Civic is newer by 34 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Nissan Skyline. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Nissan Skyline would be higher. At 1,998 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Nissan Skyline is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Honda Civic (140 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1978 Nissan Skyline. (106 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2012 Honda Civic should accelerate faster than 1978 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Nissan Skyline weights approximately 4 kg more than 2012 Honda Civic.

Because 1978 Nissan Skyline is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1978 Nissan Skyline. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2012 Honda Civic, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 2012 Honda Civic (173 Nm @ 4300 RPM) has 10 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Nissan Skyline. (163 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 2012 Honda Civic will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Nissan Skyline. 1978 Nissan Skyline has automatic transmission and 2012 Honda Civic has manual transmission. 2012 Honda Civic will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Nissan Skyline will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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