1978 Holden Sunbird vs. 1982 Holden Commodore
To start off, 1982 Holden Commodore is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Holden Sunbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Holden Sunbird would be higher. At 1,897 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Holden Sunbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Holden Sunbird (96 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1982 Holden Commodore. (78 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Holden Sunbird should accelerate faster than 1982 Holden Commodore.
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, 1978 Holden Sunbird (157 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1982 Holden Commodore. (140 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1978 Holden Sunbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1982 Holden Commodore. 1982 Holden Commodore has automatic transmission and 1978 Holden Sunbird has manual transmission. 1978 Holden Sunbird will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1982 Holden Commodore will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Holden Sunbird | 1982 Holden Commodore | |
| Make | Holden | Holden |
| Model | Sunbird | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1982 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1897 cc | 1892 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 96 HP | 78 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 157 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 1160 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4500 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2670 mm |
