1990 Honda NSX vs. 1981 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1990 Honda NSX is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 3,790 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Honda NSX (270 HP @ 7300 RPM) has 160 more horse power than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (110 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1990 Honda NSX should accelerate faster than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 240 kg more than 1990 Honda NSX.
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, 1990 Honda NSX (285 Nm @ 6500 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (256 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1990 Honda NSX will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. 1981 Pontiac Firebird has automatic transmission and 1990 Honda NSX has manual transmission. 1990 Honda NSX will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Pontiac Firebird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 Honda NSX | 1981 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Honda | Pontiac |
| Model | NSX | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2976 cc | 3790 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 270 HP | 110 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7300 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 285 Nm | 256 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 6500 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 90 mm | 96.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 78 mm | 86.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 270 km/hour | 149 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1365 kg | 1605 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4410 mm | 5040 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2750 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 79 L |
