1981 Lincoln Town Car vs. 1996 Volvo 850
To start off, 1996 Volvo 850 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, 1996 Volvo 850 (138 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1981 Lincoln Town Car. (129 HP @ 3400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Volvo 850 should accelerate faster than 1981 Lincoln Town Car. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Lincoln Town Car weights approximately 327 kg more than 1996 Volvo 850.
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 Volvo 850, 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 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Volvo 850. (290 Nm @ 1900 RPM). This means 1981 Lincoln Town Car will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Volvo 850. 1981 Lincoln Town Car has automatic transmission and 1996 Volvo 850 has manual transmission. 1996 Volvo 850 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 Volvo 850 | |
| Make | Lincoln | Volvo |
| Model | Town Car | 850 |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 2461 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 5 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 290 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 1900 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1820 kg | 1493 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1990 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2990 mm | 2670 mm |
