1981 Lincoln Town Car vs. 1996 Volkswagen Passat
To start off, 1996 Volkswagen Passat is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lincoln Town Car. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lincoln Town Car would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Lincoln Town Car is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lincoln Town Car (129 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1996 Volkswagen Passat. (125 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lincoln Town Car should accelerate faster than 1996 Volkswagen Passat.
Because 1981 Lincoln Town Car is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1981 Lincoln Town Car. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1996 Volkswagen Passat, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 Lincoln Town Car (310 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 141 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Volkswagen Passat. (169 Nm @ 4100 RPM). This means 1981 Lincoln Town Car will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Volkswagen Passat. 1981 Lincoln Town Car has automatic transmission and 1996 Volkswagen Passat has manual transmission. 1996 Volkswagen Passat will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Lincoln Town Car will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Lincoln Town Car | 1996 Volkswagen Passat | |
| Make | Lincoln | Volkswagen |
| Model | Town Car | Passat |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1996 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 1779 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 125 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 169 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 86.4 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 5570 mm | 4680 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1990 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2990 mm | 2710 mm |
