1978 AMC Pacer vs. 1984 Ford Sierra
To start off, 1984 Ford Sierra is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 AMC Pacer. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 AMC Pacer would be higher. At 3,802 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 AMC Pacer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Ford Sierra (160 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1978 AMC Pacer. (90 HP @ 3050 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Ford Sierra should accelerate faster than 1978 AMC Pacer. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 AMC Pacer weights approximately 179 kg more than 1984 Ford Sierra.
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, 1978 AMC Pacer (222 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 6 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Ford Sierra. (216 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1978 AMC Pacer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Ford Sierra. 1978 AMC Pacer has automatic transmission and 1984 Ford Sierra has manual transmission. 1984 Ford Sierra will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 AMC Pacer will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 AMC Pacer | 1984 Ford Sierra | |
| Make | AMC | Ford |
| Model | Pacer | Sierra |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3802 cc | 2792 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3050 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 216 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.2 mm | 93.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.8 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1359 kg | 1180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4360 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1960 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2550 mm | 2610 mm |
