1981 Ford Crown Victoria vs. 1978 Mazda 818
To start off, 1981 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mazda 818. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mazda 818 would be higher. At 4,186 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ford Crown Victoria (118 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1978 Mazda 818. (68 HP @ 6200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ford Crown Victoria should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda 818. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 630 kg more than 1978 Mazda 818. 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 Ford Crown Victoria (262 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 170 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 818. (92 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1981 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 818.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Crown Victoria | 1978 Mazda 818 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Crown Victoria | 818 |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4186 cc | 1272 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 68 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 262 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1630 kg | 1000 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5320 mm | 4100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2320 mm |
