1966 Ford Falcon vs. 1989 Mazda MX-5 Miata
To start off, 1989 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Ford Falcon. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Ford Falcon would be higher. At 2,782 cc (6 cylinders), 1966 Ford Falcon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Mazda MX-5 Miata (116 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 10 more horse power than 1966 Ford Falcon. (106 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Mazda MX-5 Miata should accelerate faster than 1966 Ford Falcon. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Ford Falcon weights approximately 149 kg more than 1989 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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, 1966 Ford Falcon (188 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 51 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (137 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1966 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Ford Falcon | 1989 Mazda MX-5 Miata | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Falcon | MX-5 Miata |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2782 cc | 1598 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 106 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 188 Nm | 137 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 88.9 mm | 78 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 74.7 mm | 83.6 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1119 kg | 970 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4700 mm | 3950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1230 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2720 mm | 2270 mm |
