1978 Alpine A 310 vs. 1987 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1987 Ford Fairlane is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Alpine A 310. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Alpine A 310 would be higher. At 4,088 cc (6 cylinders), 1987 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Alpine A 310 (148 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1987 Ford Fairlane. (137 HP @ 3750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Alpine A 310 should accelerate faster than 1987 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 646 kg more than 1978 Alpine A 310.
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, 1987 Ford Fairlane (304 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 96 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Alpine A 310. (208 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1987 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Alpine A 310. 1987 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1978 Alpine A 310 has manual transmission. 1978 Alpine A 310 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1987 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Alpine A 310 | 1987 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | Alpine | Ford |
| Model | A 310 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 2664 cc | 4088 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 137 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Torque | 208 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 984 kg | 1630 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4190 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2280 mm | 2950 mm |
