1989 Ford Fairlane vs. 1981 Maserati Merak

To start off, 1989 Ford Fairlane is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Maserati Merak. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Maserati Merak would be higher. At 3,949 cc (6 cylinders), 1989 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Ford Fairlane (186 HP @ 4250 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1981 Maserati Merak. (157 HP @ 7100 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1981 Maserati Merak. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 210 kg more than 1981 Maserati Merak. 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. 1989 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1981 Maserati Merak has manual transmission. 1981 Maserati Merak will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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