1982 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1978 Toyota Corona
To start off, 1982 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Toyota Corona. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Toyota Corona would be higher. At 3,275 cc (6 cylinders), 1982 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (87 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1978 Toyota Corona. (86 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1982 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1978 Toyota Corona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 464 kg more than 1978 Toyota Corona. 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, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (209 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 79 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Toyota Corona. (130 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1982 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Toyota Corona. 1982 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1978 Toyota Corona has manual transmission. 1978 Toyota Corona will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1982 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1982 Ford Thunderbird | 1978 Toyota Corona | |
| Make | Ford | Toyota |
| Model | Thunderbird | Corona |
| Year Released | 1982 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3275 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 87 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 209 Nm | 130 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1400 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1436 kg | 972 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5100 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2760 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 61 L |
