1988 Ford Falcon vs. 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata
To start off, 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Ford Falcon. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Ford Falcon would be higher. At 3,949 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Ford Falcon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Ford Falcon (161 HP @ 4250 RPM) has 62 more horse power than 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (99 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Ford Falcon should accelerate faster than 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Falcon weights approximately 375 kg more than 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. 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, 1988 Ford Falcon (311 Nm) has 66 more torque (in Nm) than 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (245 Nm). This means 1988 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Ford Falcon | 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Falcon | MX-5 Miata |
| Year Released | 1988 | 2001 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3949 cc | 1799 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 161 HP | 99 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 311 Nm | 245 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1430 kg | 1055 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 3960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1230 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2270 mm |
