1976 Ford Taunus vs. 1978 Mazda 818
To start off, 1978 Mazda 818 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Ford Taunus is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Taunus (96 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 28 more horse power than 1978 Mazda 818. (68 HP @ 6200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Taunus should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda 818. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Taunus weights approximately 180 kg more than 1978 Mazda 818. 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, 1976 Ford Taunus (152 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 60 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 818. (92 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Taunus will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 818.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Taunus | 1978 Mazda 818 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Taunus | 818 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1998 cc | 1272 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 96 HP | 68 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 152 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1060 kg | 880 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4080 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2320 mm |
