1974 Mercury Cougar vs. 1984 Toyota Starlet
To start off, 1984 Toyota Starlet is newer by 10 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 5,752 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Cougar (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 107 more horse power than 1984 Toyota Starlet. (54 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1984 Toyota Starlet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 780 kg more than 1984 Toyota Starlet. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1974 Mercury Cougar is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1974 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1984 Toyota Starlet, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 (382 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 307 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Toyota Starlet. (75 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Toyota Starlet.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Mercury Cougar | 1984 Toyota Starlet | |
| Make | Mercury | Toyota |
| Model | Cougar | Starlet |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1984 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Hatchback |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5752 cc | 999 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 161 HP | 54 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 382 Nm | 75 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1575 kg | 795 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5010 mm | 3710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2310 mm |
