1981 Pontiac Grand Safari vs. 1978 Toyota Carina
To start off, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Toyota Carina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Toyota Carina would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 834 kg more than 1978 Toyota Carina.
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. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1978 Toyota Carina has manual transmission. 1978 Toyota Carina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari | 1978 Toyota Carina | |
| Make | Pontiac | Toyota |
| Model | Grand Safari | Carina |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 149 HP | 0 HP |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1800 kg | 966 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5450 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2510 mm |
