1948 Jaguar XK vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1973 Mercury Cougar is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1948 Jaguar XK. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1948 Jaguar XK would be higher. At 6,589 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Cougar (168 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 8 more horse power than 1948 Jaguar XK. (160 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1948 Jaguar XK. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 683 kg more than 1948 Jaguar XK. 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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (375 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 111 more torque (in Nm) than 1948 Jaguar XK. (264 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1948 Jaguar XK.
Compare all specifications:
| 1948 Jaguar XK | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Jaguar | Mercury |
| Model | XK | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1948 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3442 cc | 6589 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 264 Nm | 375 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1372 kg | 2055 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4400 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2600 mm | 2910 mm |
