1974 Mercury Cougar vs. 2012 Ford F-150
To start off, 2012 Ford F-150 is newer by 38 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, 2012 Ford F-150 (360 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 208 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (152 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Ford F-150 should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2012 Ford F-150 weights approximately 353 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, 2012 Ford F-150 (515 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 138 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (377 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 2012 Ford F-150 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Mercury Cougar | 2012 Ford F-150 | |
| Make | Mercury | Ford |
| Model | Cougar | F-150 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 2012 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Pickup |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5764 cc | 5000 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 152 HP | 360 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 377 Nm | 515 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Flex Fuel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 2030 kg | 2383 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 5890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 2012 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1900 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 3670 mm |
