1979 Ford Fairlane vs. 1990 Nissan 300 ZX
To start off, 1990 Nissan 300 ZX is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,940 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Nissan 300 ZX (279 HP @ 6400 RPM) has 94 more horse power than 1979 Ford Fairlane. (185 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Nissan 300 ZX should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Nissan 300 ZX weights approximately 155 kg more than 1979 Ford Fairlane. 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, 1990 Nissan 300 ZX (376 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 32 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ford Fairlane. (344 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1990 Nissan 300 ZX will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ford Fairlane. 1979 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1990 Nissan 300 ZX has manual transmission. 1990 Nissan 300 ZX 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 | 1990 Nissan 300 ZX | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Fairlane | 300 ZX |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1990 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4940 cc | 2960 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 185 HP | 279 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6400 RPM |
| Torque | 344 Nm | 376 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1430 kg | 1585 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5020 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2580 mm |
