1972 Ford Mustang vs. 1981 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1981 Mercury Cougar is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 4,090 cc (8 cylinders), 1972 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Mercury Cougar (114 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1972 Ford Mustang. (100 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Mustang. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Ford Mustang weights approximately 94 kg more than 1981 Mercury Cougar.
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, 1972 Ford Mustang (254 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (237 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1972 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
1972 Ford Mustang | 1981 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Mustang | Cougar |
Year Released | 1972 | 1981 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4090 cc | 3797 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Horse Power | 100 HP | 114 HP |
Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 254 Nm | 237 Nm |
Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 2600 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1450 kg | 1356 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4960 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1810 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1370 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2690 mm |