1979 Ford Fairlane vs. 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia
To start off, 1979 Ford Fairlane is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia would be higher. At 4,093 cc (6 cylinders), 1979 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Ford Fairlane (124 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 75 more horse power than 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. (49 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 530 kg more than 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. 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, 1979 Ford Fairlane (296 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 188 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. (108 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. 1979 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia has manual transmission. 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Ford Fairlane | 1971 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia | |
| Make | Ford | Volkswagen |
| Model | Fairlane | Karmann-Ghia |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 4093 cc | 1583 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 124 HP | 49 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 296 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1400 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5020 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2430 mm |
