1978 Holden Sunbird vs. 1985 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1985 Ford Fairlane is newer by 7 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 4,089 cc (6 cylinders), 1985 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Ford Fairlane (137 HP @ 3750 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1978 Holden Sunbird. (96 HP @ 5200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1978 Holden Sunbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 470 kg more than 1978 Holden Sunbird. 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, 1985 Ford Fairlane (304 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 147 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Holden Sunbird. (157 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1985 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Holden Sunbird. 1985 Ford Fairlane 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. 1985 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Holden Sunbird | 1985 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | Holden | Ford |
| Model | Sunbird | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1897 cc | 4089 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 96 HP | 137 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Torque | 157 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 1630 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4500 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2950 mm |
