1959 Berkeley Foursome vs. 1980 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1980 Mercury Cougar is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Berkeley Foursome. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Berkeley Foursome would be higher. At 3,271 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercury Cougar (97 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 67 more horse power than 1959 Berkeley Foursome. (30 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1959 Berkeley Foursome. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 974 kg more than 1959 Berkeley Foursome. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1980 Mercury Cougar is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1980 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1959 Berkeley Foursome, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1980 Mercury Cougar (218 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 170 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Berkeley Foursome. (48 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1980 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Berkeley Foursome.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Berkeley Foursome | 1980 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Berkeley | Mercury |
| Model | Foursome | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 592 cc | 3271 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 30 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 48 Nm | 218 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 1400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 356 kg | 1330 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3340 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1380 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1990 mm | 2690 mm |
