1994 Ford Fairlane vs. 1988 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1994 Ford Fairlane is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 3,983 cc (6 cylinders), 1994 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1994 Ford Fairlane (205 HP @ 4900 RPM) has 65 more horse power than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. (140 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1994 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 26 kg more than 1994 Ford Fairlane.
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, 1994 Ford Fairlane (357 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 65 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. (292 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1994 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. 1988 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1994 Ford Fairlane has manual transmission. 1994 Ford Fairlane will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1994 Ford Fairlane | 1988 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Fairlane | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1994 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3983 cc | 3797 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 205 HP | 140 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4900 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 357 Nm | 292 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92.3 mm | 96.8 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.3 mm | 86 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1580 kg | 1606 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5230 mm | 5050 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1850 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2880 mm |
