1988 Ford Mustang vs. 1981 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 1988 Ford Mustang is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Laurel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Laurel would be higher. At 2,792 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Laurel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Ford Mustang (89 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Laurel. (85 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Laurel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Mustang weights approximately 44 kg more than 1981 Nissan Laurel. 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 Mustang (176 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Laurel. (167 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1988 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Laurel.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Ford Mustang | 1981 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Mustang | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2301 cc | 2792 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 85 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 176 Nm | 167 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1254 kg | 1210 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4570 mm | 4060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2560 mm | 2410 mm |
