1973 Mercury Montego vs. 1979 Volvo 260
To start off, 1979 Volvo 260 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 4,095 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Volvo 260 (146 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Montego. (96 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Volvo 260 should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Montego. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Montego weights approximately 345 kg more than 1979 Volvo 260.
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, 1973 Mercury Montego (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 260. (218 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 260. 1979 Volvo 260 has automatic transmission and 1973 Mercury Montego has manual transmission. 1973 Mercury Montego will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Volvo 260 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Mercury Montego | 1979 Volvo 260 | |
| Make | Mercury | Volvo |
| Model | Montego | 260 |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4095 cc | 2664 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 96 HP | 146 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 248 Nm | 218 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 6 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1695 kg | 1350 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5300 mm | 4890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3010 mm | 2660 mm |
