1978 Ford Mustang vs. 1988 Mitsubishi Starion
To start off, 1988 Mitsubishi Starion is newer by 10 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 2,294 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Mitsubishi Starion (102 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1978 Ford Mustang. (87 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Mitsubishi Starion should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Mustang. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Mustang weights approximately 60 kg more than 1988 Mitsubishi Starion.
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, 1988 Mitsubishi Starion (164 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Mustang. (161 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1988 Mitsubishi Starion will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Mustang.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Mustang | 1988 Mitsubishi Starion | |
| Make | Ford | Mitsubishi |
| Model | Mustang | Starion |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1988 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2294 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 87 HP | 102 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 161 Nm | 164 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1185 kg | 1125 kg |
