1989 Ford RS 200 vs. 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1989 Ford RS 200 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari would be higher. At 5,032 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Ford RS 200 (247 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari. (148 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Ford RS 200 should accelerate faster than 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 618 kg more than 1989 Ford RS 200.
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, 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari (325 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 33 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Ford RS 200. (292 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Ford RS 200. 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1989 Ford RS 200 has manual transmission. 1989 Ford RS 200 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 Ford RS 200 | 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | RS 200 | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1804 cc | 5032 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 247 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 292 Nm | 325 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1182 kg | 1800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4000 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1770 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2950 mm |
