1971 BMW 3 vs. 1968 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1971 BMW 3 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1968 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Mercury Cougar (194 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 1971 BMW 3. (170 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1971 BMW 3. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1968 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 220 kg more than 1971 BMW 3. 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, 1968 Mercury Cougar (297 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 43 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 BMW 3. (254 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1968 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 BMW 3.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 BMW 3 | 1968 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 3 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1968 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 170 HP | 194 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 254 Nm | 297 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1600 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4720 mm | 4990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2700 mm | 2830 mm |
