1974 Ford Cortina vs. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer
To start off, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 4,606 cc (8 cylinders), 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer (292 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 236 more horse power than 1974 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer weights approximately 887 kg more than 1974 Ford Cortina. 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, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer (427 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 336 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2009 Mercury Mountaineer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Cortina. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer has automatic transmission and 1974 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1974 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Ford Cortina | 2009 Mercury Mountaineer | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Cortina | Mountaineer |
| Year Released | 1974 | 2009 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 4606 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 292 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 427 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.7:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 1832 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1880 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1860 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2890 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 85 L |
