1984 Opel Rekord vs. 1981 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1984 Opel Rekord is newer by 3 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, 1981 Pontiac Firebird (110 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 21 more horse power than 1984 Opel Rekord. (89 HP @ 5400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1984 Opel Rekord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 490 kg more than 1984 Opel Rekord. 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, 1981 Pontiac Firebird (256 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 113 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Opel Rekord. (143 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Opel Rekord. 1981 Pontiac Firebird has automatic transmission and 1984 Opel Rekord has manual transmission. 1984 Opel Rekord 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:
| 1984 Opel Rekord | 1981 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Opel | Pontiac |
| Model | Rekord | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1984 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 3790 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 110 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 143 Nm | 256 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84.9 mm | 96.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.5 mm | 86.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 1605 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 5040 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1480 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2680 mm | 2750 mm |
