2003 Ariel Atom vs. 1976 Ford Taunus
To start off, 2003 Ariel Atom is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Ford Taunus is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Ariel Atom (109 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1976 Ford Taunus. (96 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 Ariel Atom should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Taunus weights approximately 598 kg more than 2003 Ariel Atom.
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, 1976 Ford Taunus (152 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Ariel Atom. (148 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Taunus will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Ariel Atom. 1976 Ford Taunus has automatic transmission and 2003 Ariel Atom has manual transmission. 2003 Ariel Atom will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Ford Taunus will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2003 Ariel Atom | 1976 Ford Taunus | |
| Make | Ariel | Ford |
| Model | Atom | Taunus |
| Year Released | 2003 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 1589 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 109 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 148 Nm | 152 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 462 kg | 1060 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3420 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2350 mm | 2590 mm |
