2004 Ford Thunderbird vs. 2012 Ford Mustang

To start off, 2012 Ford Mustang is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2004 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2004 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 3,934 cc (8 cylinders), 2004 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Ford Mustang (305 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 56 more horse power than 2004 Ford Thunderbird. (249 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 2004 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2004 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 179 kg more than 2012 Ford Mustang.

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, 2004 Ford Thunderbird (388 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 2012 Ford Mustang. (379 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 2004 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2012 Ford Mustang. 2004 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 2012 Ford Mustang has manual transmission. 2012 Ford Mustang will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2004 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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