1973 Mercury Cougar vs. 1997 Volkswagen W12
To start off, 1997 Volkswagen W12 is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Volkswagen W12 (420 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 252 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (168 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1997 Volkswagen W12 should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 450 kg more than 1997 Volkswagen W12.
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, 1997 Volkswagen W12 (719 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 356 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1997 Volkswagen W12 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
1973 Mercury Cougar | 1997 Volkswagen W12 | |
Make | Mercury | Volkswagen |
Model | Cougar | W12 |
Year Released | 1973 | 1997 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 5769 cc | 5600 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | W |
Horse Power | 168 HP | 420 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
Torque | 363 Nm | 719 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 81 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 88.8 mm | 90.3 mm |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline - Premium |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1200 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5080 mm | 4410 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1930 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1310 mm | 1110 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2550 mm |