1970 Mercury Cougar vs. 1968 Plymouth VIP
To start off, 1970 Mercury Cougar is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Plymouth VIP. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Plymouth VIP would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Plymouth VIP (230 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 63 more horse power than 1970 Mercury Cougar. (167 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Plymouth VIP should accelerate faster than 1970 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 3 kg more than 1968 Plymouth VIP.
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, 1968 Plymouth VIP (461 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 98 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Mercury Cougar. (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1968 Plymouth VIP will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Mercury Cougar. 1968 Plymouth VIP has automatic transmission and 1970 Mercury Cougar has manual transmission. 1970 Mercury Cougar will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1968 Plymouth VIP will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Mercury Cougar | 1968 Plymouth VIP | |
| Make | Mercury | Plymouth |
| Model | Cougar | VIP |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1968 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5769 cc | 5208 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 167 HP | 230 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 363 Nm | 461 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.7 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.8 mm | 84.1 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1647 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5840 mm | 5420 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2000 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 3030 mm |
