1981 Ford Capri vs. 1978 Holden Sunbird
To start off, 1981 Ford Capri is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Holden Sunbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Holden Sunbird would be higher. At 1,897 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Holden Sunbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Holden Sunbird (96 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 1981 Ford Capri. (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Holden Sunbird should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Holden Sunbird weights approximately 175 kg more than 1981 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, 1978 Holden Sunbird (157 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 71 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Capri. (86 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Holden Sunbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Capri. 1978 Holden Sunbird has automatic transmission and 1981 Ford Capri has manual transmission. 1981 Ford Capri will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Holden Sunbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Capri | 1978 Holden Sunbird | |
| Make | Ford | Holden |
| Model | Capri | Sunbird |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1297 cc | 1897 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 86 Nm | 157 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 985 kg | 1160 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4500 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2590 mm |
