1976 Ford Taunus vs. 1979 Mazda 121
To start off, 1979 Mazda 121 is newer by 3 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 6 more horse power than 1979 Mazda 121. (90 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Taunus should accelerate faster than 1979 Mazda 121. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mazda 121 weights approximately 74 kg more than 1976 Ford Taunus.
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, 1979 Mazda 121 (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 8 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Taunus. (152 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1979 Mazda 121 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Taunus.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Taunus | 1979 Mazda 121 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Taunus | 121 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1998 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 96 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 152 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 90.8 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77 mm | 98 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1060 kg | 1134 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2520 mm |
