1978 Buick Estate vs. 1984 Ford Orion
To start off, 1984 Ford Orion is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Buick Estate. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Buick Estate would be higher. At 5,736 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Buick Estate is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Buick Estate (153 HP) has 75 more horse power than 1984 Ford Orion. (78 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Buick Estate should accelerate faster than 1984 Ford Orion. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Buick Estate weights approximately 974 kg more than 1984 Ford Orion. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1978 Buick Estate is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1978 Buick Estate. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1984 Ford Orion, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 Buick Estate (381 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 253 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Ford Orion. (128 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Buick Estate will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Ford Orion.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Buick Estate | 1984 Ford Orion | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | Estate | Orion |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1984 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5736 cc | 1597 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 153 HP | 78 HP |
| Torque | 381 Nm | 128 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 96.5 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 97.8 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1880 kg | 906 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5510 mm | 4220 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1990 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2410 mm |
