1974 Mercury Cougar vs. 1968 Opel Diplomat
To start off, 1974 Mercury Cougar is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Opel Diplomat. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Opel Diplomat would be higher. At 5,752 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Opel Diplomat (227 HP @ 4700 RPM) has 66 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Opel Diplomat should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1968 Opel Diplomat weights approximately 115 kg more than 1974 Mercury Cougar. 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, 1968 Opel Diplomat (427 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 45 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (382 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1968 Opel Diplomat will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Mercury Cougar. 1968 Opel Diplomat has automatic transmission and 1974 Mercury Cougar has manual transmission. 1974 Mercury Cougar will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1968 Opel Diplomat will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Mercury Cougar | 1968 Opel Diplomat | |
| Make | Mercury | Opel |
| Model | Cougar | Diplomat |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1968 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5752 cc | 5354 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 161 HP | 227 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4700 RPM |
| Torque | 382 Nm | 427 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1575 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5010 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1910 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2850 mm |
