1985 Alfa Romeo Spider vs. 1996 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1996 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider would be higher. At 3,791 cc (6 cylinders), 1996 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Ford Thunderbird (138 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider. (126 HP @ 5400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 459 kg more than 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider. 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, 1996 Ford Thunderbird (291 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 113 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider. (178 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1996 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider. 1996 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider has manual transmission. 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1996 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider | 1996 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Alfa Romeo | Ford |
| Model | Spider | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1960 cc | 3791 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 126 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 178 Nm | 291 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 96.8 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.5 mm | 86 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1161 kg | 1620 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4250 mm | 5090 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1850 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2880 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 60 L |
