1971 Mercury Cougar vs. 1978 Volvo 265
To start off, 1978 Volvo 265 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Mercury Cougar (167 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1978 Volvo 265. (148 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1978 Volvo 265. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 246 kg more than 1978 Volvo 265. 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 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 145 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Volvo 265. (218 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Volvo 265.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Mercury Cougar | 1978 Volvo 265 | |
| Make | Mercury | Volvo |
| Model | Cougar | 265 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5769 cc | 2664 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 167 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 363 Nm | 218 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1404 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5080 mm | 4890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1310 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2660 mm |
