1966 Mercury Cyclone vs. 2001 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 2001 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Mercury Cyclone. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Mercury Cyclone would be higher. At 6,393 cc (8 cylinders), 1966 Mercury Cyclone is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Mercury Cyclone (335 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 138 more horse power than 2001 Pontiac Firebird. (197 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Mercury Cyclone should accelerate faster than 2001 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Mercury Cyclone weights approximately 92 kg more than 2001 Pontiac Firebird. 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, 1966 Mercury Cyclone (579 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 274 more torque (in Nm) than 2001 Pontiac Firebird. (305 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1966 Mercury Cyclone will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2001 Pontiac Firebird. 1966 Mercury Cyclone has automatic transmission and 2001 Pontiac Firebird has manual transmission. 2001 Pontiac Firebird will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1966 Mercury Cyclone will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Mercury Cyclone | 2001 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Mercury | Pontiac |
| Model | Cyclone | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1966 | 2001 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6393 cc | 3783 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 335 HP | 197 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 579 Nm | 305 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 103 mm | 96.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 86.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1632 kg | 1540 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4980 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2570 mm |
