1987 Ford Falcon vs. 1981 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1987 Ford Falcon is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 3,273 cc (6 cylinders), 1987 Ford Falcon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Ford Falcon (120 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 61 more horse power than 1981 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1987 Ford Falcon should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Ford Falcon weights approximately 370 kg more than 1981 Ford Cortina. 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, 1987 Ford Falcon (240 Nm @ 2300 RPM) has 148 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1987 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1987 Ford Falcon | 1981 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Falcon | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1987 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3273 cc | 1293 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Torque | 240 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1370 kg | 1000 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4720 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2590 mm |
