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 4,142 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Holden Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Holden Commodore (168 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1981 Holden Commodore. (134 HP @ 4200 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 40 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 (292 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 22 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Holden Commodore. (270 Nm @ 2000 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 | 3791 cc | 4142 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 168 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 292 Nm | 270 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 2000 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 | 1310 kg | 1350 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4860 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2740 mm | 2670 mm |
