2002 Ford Econovan vs. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 2002 Ford Econovan is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari (149 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 2002 Ford Econovan. (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari should accelerate faster than 2002 Ford Econovan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 505 kg more than 2002 Ford Econovan. 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, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari (325 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 187 more torque (in Nm) than 2002 Ford Econovan. (138 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2002 Ford Econovan. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 2002 Ford Econovan has manual transmission. 2002 Ford Econovan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2002 Ford Econovan | 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Econovan | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 2002 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1789 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 149 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 325 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1295 kg | 1800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1870 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2210 mm | 2950 mm |
