1981 Pontiac Firebird vs. 1988 Porsche 944
To start off, 1988 Porsche 944 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Porsche 944 (162 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 17 more horse power than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (145 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Porsche 944 should accelerate faster than 1981 Pontiac Firebird.
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 99 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Porsche 944. (225 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Porsche 944. 1988 Porsche 944 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. 1988 Porsche 944 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Pontiac Firebird | 1988 Porsche 944 | |
| Make | Pontiac | Porsche |
| Model | Firebird | 944 |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5012 cc | 2680 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 162 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 324 Nm | 225 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95 mm | 104 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.4 mm | 78.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 10.9:1 |
| Top Speed | 160 km/hour | 219 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 5040 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1260 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2750 mm | 2390 mm |
