1971 Pontiac Bonneville vs. 1979 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1979 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Pontiac Bonneville. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Pontiac Bonneville would be higher. At 7,462 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Pontiac Bonneville is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Pontiac Bonneville (185 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1979 Pontiac Firebird. (158 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Pontiac Bonneville should accelerate faster than 1979 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Pontiac Bonneville weights approximately 394 kg more than 1979 Pontiac Firebird. 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 Pontiac Bonneville (485 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 119 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Pontiac Firebird. (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1971 Pontiac Bonneville will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Pontiac Firebird.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Pontiac Bonneville | 1979 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Pontiac | Pontiac |
| Model | Bonneville | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7462 cc | 5700 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 185 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 485 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1990 kg | 1596 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5740 mm | 4880 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2030 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1290 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3210 mm | 2750 mm |
