2003 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1979 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 2003 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Toyota Corolla. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Toyota Corolla would be higher. At 3,934 cc (8 cylinders), 2003 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Ford Thunderbird (249 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 177 more horse power than 1979 Toyota Corolla. (72 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1979 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2003 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 695 kg more than 1979 Toyota Corolla. 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, 2003 Ford Thunderbird (388 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 259 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Toyota Corolla. (129 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 2003 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Toyota Corolla. 2003 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1979 Toyota Corolla has manual transmission. 1979 Toyota Corolla will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2003 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2003 Ford Thunderbird | 1979 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Ford | Toyota |
| Model | Thunderbird | Corolla |
| Year Released | 2003 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3934 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 249 HP | 72 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 388 Nm | 129 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1745 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1840 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2410 mm |
