1996 Ferrari 550 vs. 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda
To start off, 1996 Ferrari 550 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda would be higher. At 5,474 cc (12 cylinders), 1996 Ferrari 550 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Ferrari 550 (485 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 199 more horse power than 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda. (286 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Ferrari 550 should accelerate faster than 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda weights approximately 535 kg more than 1996 Ferrari 550.
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, 1996 Ferrari 550 (568 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 134 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda. (434 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1996 Ferrari 550 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda. 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda has automatic transmission and 1996 Ferrari 550 has manual transmission. 1996 Ferrari 550 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Ferrari 550 | 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda | |
| Make | Ferrari | Aston Martin |
| Model | 550 | Lagonda |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5474 cc | 5340 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 485 HP | 286 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 568 Nm | 434 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 88 mm | 100 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 85 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 2225 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4550 mm | 5290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1940 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2460 mm | 2920 mm |
