1978 Pontiac Firebird vs. 1986 Holden Commodore
To start off, 1986 Holden Commodore is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 Holden Commodore (201 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 56 more horse power than 1978 Pontiac Firebird. (145 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1986 Holden Commodore should accelerate faster than 1978 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 361 kg more than 1986 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 Pontiac Firebird (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Holden Commodore. (296 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1978 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Holden Commodore.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Pontiac Firebird | 1986 Holden Commodore | |
| Make | Pontiac | Holden |
| Model | Firebird | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1986 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5012 cc | 2962 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 201 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 324 Nm | 296 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1596 kg | 1235 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4880 mm | 4770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1290 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2750 mm | 2670 mm |
