1976 Ford Taunus vs. 1981 Jaguar XJS
To start off, 1981 Jaguar XJS 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 5,344 cc (12 cylinders), 1981 Jaguar XJS is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Jaguar XJS (299 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 193 more horse power than 1976 Ford Taunus. (106 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Jaguar XJS should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Jaguar XJS weights approximately 592 kg more than 1976 Ford Taunus. 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, 1981 Jaguar XJS (431 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 254 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Taunus. (177 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Jaguar XJS will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Taunus. 1981 Jaguar XJS 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 Jaguar XJS will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Taunus | 1981 Jaguar XJS | |
| Make | Ford | Jaguar |
| Model | Taunus | XJS |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2294 cc | 5344 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 106 HP | 299 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 177 Nm | 431 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 12.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 1707 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 4880 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1270 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2600 mm |
