2003 Ariel Atom vs. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 2003 Ariel Atom is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Crown Victoria would be higher. At 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ford Crown Victoria (138 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 2003 Ariel Atom. (109 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ford Crown Victoria should accelerate faster than 2003 Ariel Atom. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 1198 kg more than 2003 Ariel Atom. 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, 1978 Ford Crown Victoria (353 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 205 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Ariel Atom. (148 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Ariel Atom. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria 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. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2003 Ariel Atom | 1978 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | Ariel | Ford |
| Model | Atom | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 2003 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 1589 cc | 5766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 109 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 148 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 1 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 462 kg | 1660 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3420 mm | 5320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2350 mm | 2910 mm |
