1981 Pontiac Firebird vs. 1990 Volvo 940
To start off, 1990 Volvo 940 is newer by 9 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 3,790 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Volvo 940 (111 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (110 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Volvo 940 should accelerate faster than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 231 kg more than 1990 Volvo 940.
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 (256 Nm) has 99 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Volvo 940. (157 Nm). This means 1981 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Volvo 940. 1981 Pontiac Firebird has automatic transmission and 1990 Volvo 940 has manual transmission. 1990 Volvo 940 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Pontiac Firebird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Pontiac Firebird | 1990 Volvo 940 | |
| Make | Pontiac | Volvo |
| Model | Firebird | 940 |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1990 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3790 cc | 1986 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 110 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 256 Nm | 157 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 96.5 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86.4 mm | 80 mm |
| Top Speed | 149 km/hour | 179 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1605 kg | 1374 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5040 mm | 4880 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1260 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2750 mm | 2780 mm |
