1972 BMW 520 vs. 1989 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1989 Mercury Cougar is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 BMW 520 would be higher. At 3,799 cc (6 cylinders), 1989 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Mercury Cougar (140 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1972 BMW 520. (113 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1972 BMW 520.
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, 1989 Mercury Cougar (292 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 127 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 BMW 520. (165 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1989 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 BMW 520. 1989 Mercury Cougar has automatic transmission and 1972 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 1972 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Mercury Cougar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 520 | 1989 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 520 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 3799 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 140 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 292 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 5050 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1850 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2880 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 72 L |
