1981 Holden Commodore vs. 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 7 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 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis (148 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1981 Holden Commodore. (78 HP @ 4600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis should accelerate faster than 1981 Holden Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 592 kg more than 1981 Holden Commodore. 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, 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 225 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Holden Commodore. (141 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Holden Commodore.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Holden Commodore | 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Holden | Mercury |
| Model | Commodore | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1988 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1892 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 78 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 1752 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4710 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2920 mm |
