1989 Ford Fairlane vs. 1981 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1989 Ford Fairlane is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Skyline. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Skyline 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 93 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (93 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 510 kg more than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 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, 1989 Ford Fairlane (338 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 189 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (149 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1989 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 1989 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1981 Nissan Skyline has manual transmission. 1981 Nissan Skyline 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.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 Ford Fairlane | 1981 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Fairlane | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3949 cc | 1809 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 186 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 338 Nm | 149 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1560 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5030 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2620 mm |
