1974 Mercury Cougar vs. 1978 Chrysler 1609
To start off, 1978 Chrysler 1609 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,764 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Cougar (152 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 63 more horse power than 1978 Chrysler 1609. (89 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1978 Chrysler 1609. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 940 kg more than 1978 Chrysler 1609. 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, 1974 Mercury Cougar (377 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 244 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Chrysler 1609. (133 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Chrysler 1609.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Mercury Cougar | 1978 Chrysler 1609 | |
| Make | Mercury | Chrysler |
| Model | Cougar | 1609 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5764 cc | 1639 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 152 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 377 Nm | 133 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 2030 kg | 1090 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 4530 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2670 mm |
