1971 Ford Mustang vs. 1978 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1978 Mercury Cougar is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Ford Mustang (251 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 118 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Cougar. (133 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 855 kg more than 1971 Ford Mustang.
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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm) has 190 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Mustang. (146 Nm). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Mustang.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Mustang | 1978 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Mustang | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4726 cc | 4941 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 336 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 2010 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2910 mm |
