1973 Ford Escort vs. 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Escort would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari (149 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 53 more horse power than 1973 Ford Escort. (96 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 886 kg more than 1973 Ford Escort. 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, 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari (325 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 177 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Ford Escort. (148 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Ford Escort. 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1973 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1973 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Ford Escort | 1985 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Escort | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1993 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 96 HP | 149 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 148 Nm | 325 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 90.8 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 914 kg | 1800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2950 mm |
