1978 Ford Mustang vs. 1981 Honda Civic
To start off, 1981 Honda Civic is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ford Mustang (138 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1981 Honda Civic. (59 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1981 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Mustang weights approximately 505 kg more than 1981 Honda Civic. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1978 Ford Mustang 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 Ford Mustang. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Honda Civic, 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 Ford Mustang (339 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 246 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Honda Civic. (93 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Mustang | 1981 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Ford | Honda |
| Model | Mustang | Civic |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4941 cc | 1333 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 339 Nm | 93 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 72 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 82 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1290 kg | 785 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4560 mm | 3770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2560 mm | 2330 mm |
