1981 Holden Commodore vs. 1985 Vauxhall Carlton
To start off, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Holden Commodore. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Holden Commodore would be higher. At 1,892 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Holden Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton (89 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1981 Holden Commodore. (78 HP @ 4600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton should accelerate faster than 1981 Holden Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Holden Commodore weights approximately 10 kg more than 1985 Vauxhall Carlton.
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, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton (143 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Holden Commodore. (140 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1985 Vauxhall Carlton will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Holden Commodore. 1985 Vauxhall Carlton has automatic transmission and 1981 Holden Commodore has manual transmission. 1981 Holden Commodore will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1985 Vauxhall Carlton will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Holden Commodore | 1985 Vauxhall Carlton | |
| Make | Holden | Vauxhall |
| Model | Commodore | Carlton |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1985 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Station Wagon |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1892 cc | 1794 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 78 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 143 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 1150 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4710 mm | 4690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2680 mm |
