1981 Pontiac Firebird vs. 1975 Ford Escort
To start off, 1981 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 Ford Escort would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Pontiac Firebird (145 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 92 more horse power than 1975 Ford Escort. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1975 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 657 kg more than 1975 Ford Escort. 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, 1981 Pontiac Firebird (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 239 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Ford Escort. (85 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Ford Escort. 1975 Ford Escort has automatic transmission and 1981 Pontiac Firebird has manual transmission. 1981 Pontiac Firebird will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1975 Ford Escort will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Pontiac Firebird | 1975 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Pontiac | Ford |
| Model | Firebird | Escort |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1975 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5012 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 53 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 324 Nm | 85 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95 mm | 79 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.4 mm | 66 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1542 kg | 885 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5040 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1260 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2750 mm | 2410 mm |
