1974 Chevrolet Vega vs. 1980 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1980 Mercury Cougar is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Chevrolet Vega. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Chevrolet Vega would be higher. At 4,184 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercury Cougar (116 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 35 more horse power than 1974 Chevrolet Vega. (81 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1974 Chevrolet Vega. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 405 kg more than 1974 Chevrolet Vega. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1980 Mercury Cougar (264 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 97 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Chevrolet Vega. (167 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1980 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Chevrolet Vega.
Compare all specifications:
1974 Chevrolet Vega | 1980 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Chevrolet | Mercury |
Model | Vega | Cougar |
Year Released | 1974 | 1980 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2285 cc | 4184 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 81 HP | 116 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 3400 RPM |
Torque | 167 Nm | 264 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2200 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Vehicle Weight | 1005 kg | 1410 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 4960 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1670 mm | 1810 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1370 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2480 mm | 2690 mm |