1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1986 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1986 Ford Fairlane is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Buick Riviera. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Buick Riviera would be higher. At 7,468 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Buick Riviera (311 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 174 more horse power than 1986 Ford Fairlane. (137 HP @ 3750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1986 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 408 kg more than 1986 Ford Fairlane. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1971 Buick Riviera (617 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 313 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Ford Fairlane. (304 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Ford Fairlane. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1986 Ford Fairlane has manual transmission. 1986 Ford Fairlane will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Buick Riviera will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Buick Riviera | 1986 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | Riviera | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1986 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 4089 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 137 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1632 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2950 mm |
