1998 Ford Falcon vs. 1981 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1998 Ford Falcon is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Skyline. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Skyline 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 124 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (111 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Ford Falcon should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Ford Falcon weights approximately 495 kg more than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 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 228 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (167 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1998 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 1998 Ford Falcon has automatic transmission and 1981 Nissan Skyline has manual transmission. 1981 Nissan Skyline will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1998 Ford Falcon will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Ford Falcon | 1981 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Falcon | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 1951 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 235 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 395 Nm | 167 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1580 kg | 1085 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4910 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2620 mm |
