1972 Mercury Montego vs. 1981 Nissan Cherry
To start off, 1981 Nissan Cherry is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 4,095 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Mercury Montego (97 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Cherry. (59 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 Mercury Montego should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Cherry. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Montego weights approximately 870 kg more than 1981 Nissan Cherry. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1972 Mercury Montego is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1972 Mercury Montego. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Cherry, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 Mercury Montego (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 152 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Cherry. (96 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Cherry. 1981 Nissan Cherry has automatic transmission and 1972 Mercury Montego has manual transmission. 1972 Mercury Montego will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Nissan Cherry will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Mercury Montego | 1981 Nissan Cherry | |
| Make | Mercury | Nissan |
| Model | Montego | Cherry |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4095 cc | 1270 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 97 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 248 Nm | 96 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1695 kg | 825 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5300 mm | 3900 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1610 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3010 mm | 2400 mm |
