2006 Ford Ranger vs. 1981 Ford Fairlane

To start off, 2006 Ford Ranger is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,092 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ford Fairlane (124 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 16 more horse power than 2006 Ford Ranger. (108 HP @ 3500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 2006 Ford Ranger. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2006 Ford Ranger weights approximately 315 kg more than 1981 Ford Fairlane.

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 Ford Fairlane (296 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 2006 Ford Ranger. (257 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1981 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2006 Ford Ranger. 1981 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 2006 Ford Ranger has manual transmission. 2006 Ford Ranger will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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