1978 Ford Taunus vs. 1989 Mazda 323
To start off, 1989 Mazda 323 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 1,324 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Mazda 323 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Mazda 323 (74 HP) has 21 more horse power than 1978 Ford Taunus. (53 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Mazda 323 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Taunus weights approximately 70 kg more than 1989 Mazda 323.
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, 1989 Mazda 323 (104 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Taunus. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1989 Mazda 323 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Taunus.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Taunus | 1989 Mazda 323 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Taunus | 323 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1294 cc | 1324 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 53 HP | 74 HP |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 104 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3700 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 985 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 4260 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2620 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 94 L | 50 L |
