1982 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1982 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Senator. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Senator would be higher. At 3,275 cc (6 cylinders), 1982 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (115 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 28 more horse power than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. (87 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 101 kg more than 1978 Opel Senator.
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, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (209 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 49 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Opel Senator. (160 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1982 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Opel Senator.
Compare all specifications:
| 1982 Ford Thunderbird | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Ford | Opel |
| Model | Thunderbird | Senator |
| Year Released | 1982 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3275 cc | 1977 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 87 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 209 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1400 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 140 km/hour | 175 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1436 kg | 1335 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5100 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2760 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 43 L |
