1985 Ford Mustang vs. 1980 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1985 Ford Mustang is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Ford Mustang (175 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1980 Pontiac Firebird. (145 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1980 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 416 kg more than 1985 Ford Mustang.
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, 1980 Pontiac Firebird (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Ford Mustang. (285 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1980 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Ford Mustang.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Ford Mustang | 1980 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Mustang | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1980 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2301 cc | 5012 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 175 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 285 Nm | 324 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 96 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.4 mm | 88.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Top Speed | 201 km/hour | 160 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1180 kg | 1596 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4560 mm | 4880 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1290 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2750 mm |
