1973 Mercury Montego vs. 1985 Reliant Scimitar
To start off, 1985 Reliant Scimitar is newer by 12 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, 1985 Reliant Scimitar (133 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Montego. (96 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Reliant Scimitar should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Montego. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Montego weights approximately 430 kg more than 1985 Reliant Scimitar.
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 42 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Reliant Scimitar. (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Reliant Scimitar. 1985 Reliant Scimitar 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. 1985 Reliant Scimitar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Mercury Montego | 1985 Reliant Scimitar | |
| Make | Mercury | Reliant |
| Model | Montego | Scimitar |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4095 cc | 2790 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 96 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 248 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 93.6 mm | 93 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.3 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 6 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1695 kg | 1265 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5300 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3010 mm | 2640 mm |
