1981 Ford Mustang 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 Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ford Mustang (173 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1987 Ford Fairlane. (137 HP @ 3750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1987 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 275 kg more than 1981 Ford Mustang.

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 Mustang (332 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Ford Fairlane. (304 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1981 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Ford Fairlane.

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