1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1973 Mercury Cougar is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 7,542 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Cougar (213 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 95 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 1216 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan. 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 (498 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 352 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1969 Lotus Elan | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Lotus | Mercury |
Model | Elan | Cougar |
Year Released | 1969 | 1973 |
Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 7542 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 118 HP | 213 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 146 Nm | 498 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2600 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 889 kg | 2105 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 5480 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 2010 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2910 mm |