1966 Mercury Comet vs. 1965 Riley Kestrel
To start off, 1966 Mercury Comet is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1965 Riley Kestrel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1965 Riley Kestrel would be higher. At 3,279 cc (6 cylinders), 1966 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Mercury Comet (118 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 65 more horse power than 1965 Riley Kestrel. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Mercury Comet should accelerate faster than 1965 Riley Kestrel.
Because 1966 Mercury Comet 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 1966 Mercury Comet. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1965 Riley Kestrel, 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, 1966 Mercury Comet (258 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 174 more torque (in Nm) than 1965 Riley Kestrel. (84 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1966 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1965 Riley Kestrel.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Mercury Comet | 1965 Riley Kestrel | |
| Make | Mercury | Riley |
| Model | Comet | Kestrel |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1965 |
| Engine Size | 3279 cc | 1098 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 53 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 258 Nm | 84 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Vehicle Length | 5000 mm | 3730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1540 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2380 mm |
