1998 Ford Falcon vs. 1978 Holden Sunbird
To start off, 1998 Ford Falcon is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Holden Sunbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Holden Sunbird would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1998 Ford Falcon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Ford Falcon (235 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 139 more horse power than 1978 Holden Sunbird. (96 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Ford Falcon should accelerate faster than 1978 Holden Sunbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Ford Falcon weights approximately 420 kg more than 1978 Holden Sunbird. 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, 1998 Ford Falcon (395 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 238 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Holden Sunbird. (157 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1998 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Holden Sunbird.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Ford Falcon | 1978 Holden Sunbird | |
| Make | Ford | Holden |
| Model | Falcon | Sunbird |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 1897 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 235 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 395 Nm | 157 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1580 kg | 1160 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4910 mm | 4500 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2590 mm |
