1976 Ford Taunus vs. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari 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 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari (149 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 60 more horse power than 1976 Ford Taunus. (89 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 685 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 Pontiac Grand Safari (325 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 176 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Taunus. (149 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Taunus. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari 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 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Taunus | 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Taunus | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1993 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 149 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 149 Nm | 325 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 1800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2950 mm |
