1971 BMW 3 vs. 1974 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1974 Mercury Cougar is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 BMW 3. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 BMW 3 would be higher. At 5,752 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 BMW 3 (180 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (161 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 195 kg more than 1971 BMW 3.
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, 1974 Mercury Cougar (382 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 127 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 BMW 3. (255 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1974 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 | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | BMW | Mercury |
Model | 3 | Cougar |
Year Released | 1971 | 1974 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2986 cc | 5752 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 180 HP | 161 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 255 Nm | 382 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 2000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.6:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1575 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 5010 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1920 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1300 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2860 mm |