1989 Ford Falcon vs. 1982 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1989 Ford Falcon is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1982 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1982 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 3,275 cc (6 cylinders), 1982 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Ford Falcon (120 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. (87 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Ford Falcon should accelerate faster than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 16 kg more than 1989 Ford Falcon.
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 Falcon (236 Nm @ 3250 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. (209 Nm @ 1400 RPM). This means 1989 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. 1982 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1989 Ford Falcon has manual transmission. 1989 Ford Falcon will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1982 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 Ford Falcon | 1982 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Falcon | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1982 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3157 cc | 3275 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 87 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 236 Nm | 209 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3250 RPM | 1400 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1420 kg | 1436 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 5100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2760 mm |
