1998 Mercury Grand Marquis vs. 1981 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Opel Rekord. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Opel Rekord would be higher. At 4,603 cc (8 cylinders), 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 632 kg more than 1981 Opel Rekord.
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. 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis has automatic transmission and 1981 Opel Rekord has manual transmission. 1981 Opel Rekord will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis | 1981 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Mercury | Opel |
| Model | Grand Marquis | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4603 cc | 1689 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 223 HP | 0 HP |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1732 kg | 1100 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5390 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2000 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2920 mm | 2680 mm |
