1978 Honda Prelude vs. 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Honda Prelude. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Honda Prelude would be higher. At 4,186 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis (118 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1978 Honda Prelude. (89 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis should accelerate faster than 1978 Honda Prelude. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 790 kg more than 1978 Honda Prelude. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1978 Honda Prelude, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis (262 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 121 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Honda Prelude. (141 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Honda Prelude.
Compare all specifications:
1978 Honda Prelude | 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
Make | Honda | Mercury |
Model | Prelude | Grand Marquis |
Year Released | 1978 | 1981 |
Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1750 cc | 4186 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 89 HP | 118 HP |
Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 3800 RPM |
Torque | 141 Nm | 262 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2200 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Front | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 890 kg | 1680 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4100 mm | 5400 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1980 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1390 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2330 mm | 2910 mm |