1997 Ford Falcon vs. 1980 Holden Commodore
To start off, 1997 Ford Falcon is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Holden Commodore. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Holden Commodore would be higher. At 4,142 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Holden Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Ford Falcon (205 HP @ 4900 RPM) has 71 more horse power than 1980 Holden Commodore. (134 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Ford Falcon should accelerate faster than 1980 Holden Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Ford Falcon weights approximately 179 kg more than 1980 Holden Commodore. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1997 Ford Falcon (357 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 88 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Holden Commodore. (269 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1997 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Holden Commodore. 1980 Holden Commodore has automatic transmission and 1997 Ford Falcon has manual transmission. 1997 Ford Falcon will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Holden Commodore will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Ford Falcon | 1980 Holden Commodore | |
| Make | Ford | Holden |
| Model | Falcon | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1980 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3984 cc | 4142 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 205 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4900 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 357 Nm | 269 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1535 kg | 1356 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4910 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2670 mm |
