1976 Ford Taunus vs. 1981 Fiat 131
To start off, 1981 Fiat 131 is newer by 5 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 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Fiat 131 (111 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 58 more horse power than 1976 Ford Taunus. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Fiat 131 should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Taunus weights approximately 40 kg more than 1981 Fiat 131.
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, 1981 Fiat 131 (167 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 76 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Taunus. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Fiat 131 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Taunus. 1981 Fiat 131 has automatic transmission and 1976 Ford Taunus has manual transmission. 1976 Ford Taunus will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Fiat 131 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Taunus | 1981 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Ford | Fiat |
| Model | Taunus | 131 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1294 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 53 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 167 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1145 kg | 1105 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2500 mm |
