1981 Chevrolet Caprice vs. 1978 Ford Capri
To start off, 1981 Chevrolet Caprice is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Capri would be higher. At 5,002 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Chevrolet Caprice is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Chevrolet Caprice (148 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1978 Ford Capri. (49 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Chevrolet Caprice should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Chevrolet Caprice weights approximately 735 kg more than 1978 Ford Capri. 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, 1981 Chevrolet Caprice (333 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 246 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Capri. (87 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Chevrolet Caprice will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Capri. 1981 Chevrolet Caprice has automatic transmission and 1978 Ford Capri has manual transmission. 1978 Ford Capri will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Chevrolet Caprice will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Chevrolet Caprice | 1978 Ford Capri | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Caprice | Capri |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5002 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 49 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 333 Nm | 87 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1720 kg | 985 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5460 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1480 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2570 mm |
