1978 Ford Taunus vs. 1990 Volvo 960
To start off, 1990 Volvo 960 is newer by 12 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 2,922 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 Volvo 960 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Volvo 960 (204 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 151 more horse power than 1978 Ford Taunus. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Volvo 960 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Volvo 960 weights approximately 501 kg more than 1978 Ford Taunus. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1990 Volvo 960 (267 Nm @ 4300 RPM) has 176 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Taunus. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1990 Volvo 960 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Taunus.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Taunus | 1990 Volvo 960 | |
| Make | Ford | Volvo |
| Model | Taunus | 960 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1990 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1294 cc | 2922 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 53 HP | 204 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 267 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 10.7:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 1556 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 4880 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2650 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 94 L | 80 L |
