1981 Ford Cortina vs. 1987 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1987 Ford Fairlane is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 4,088 cc (6 cylinders), 1987 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Ford Fairlane (137 HP @ 3750 RPM) has 78 more horse power than 1981 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 630 kg more than 1981 Ford Cortina. 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, 1987 Ford Fairlane (304 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 212 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1987 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Cortina | 1987 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Cortina | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1293 cc | 4088 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 137 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 1630 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2950 mm |
