1974 Mercury Cougar vs. 2004 Nissan Altima
To start off, 2004 Nissan Altima is newer by 30 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, 2004 Nissan Altima (175 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2004 Nissan Altima should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 197 kg more than 2004 Nissan Altima.
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, 2004 Nissan Altima, 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) has 138 more torque (in Nm) than 2004 Nissan Altima. (244 Nm). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2004 Nissan Altima.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Mercury Cougar | 2004 Nissan Altima | |
| Make | Mercury | Nissan |
| Model | Cougar | Altima |
| Year Released | 1974 | 2004 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5752 cc | 2489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 161 HP | 175 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 382 Nm | 244 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1575 kg | 1378 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5010 mm | 4870 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2810 mm |
