1971 Lincoln Continental vs. 1981 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1981 Mercury Cougar is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lincoln Continental. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lincoln Continental would be higher. At 7,536 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Lincoln Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lincoln Continental (209 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 95 more horse power than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (114 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lincoln Continental should accelerate faster than 1981 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Lincoln Continental weights approximately 854 kg more than 1981 Mercury Cougar. 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, 1971 Lincoln Continental (465 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 228 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (237 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1971 Lincoln Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Lincoln Continental | 1981 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Lincoln | Mercury |
| Model | Continental | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7536 cc | 3797 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 209 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 465 Nm | 237 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 2210 kg | 1356 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5500 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2030 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2980 mm | 2690 mm |
