1988 Holden Commodore vs. 1981 Holden Commodore
To start off, 1988 Holden Commodore is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Holden Commodore. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Holden Commodore would be higher. At 2,961 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Holden Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Holden Commodore (153 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1981 Holden Commodore. (102 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Holden Commodore should accelerate faster than 1981 Holden Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Holden Commodore weights approximately 5 kg more than 1988 Holden Commodore.
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 Holden Commodore (247 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 55 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Holden Commodore. (192 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1988 Holden Commodore will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Holden Commodore. 1981 Holden Commodore has automatic transmission and 1988 Holden Commodore has manual transmission. 1988 Holden Commodore will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Holden Commodore will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Holden Commodore | 1981 Holden Commodore | |
| Make | Holden | Holden |
| Model | Commodore | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2961 cc | 2837 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 153 HP | 102 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 247 Nm | 192 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1215 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4770 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2670 mm |
