1974 Mercury Cougar vs. 2012 Ford Mustang
To start off, 2012 Ford Mustang 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 5,752 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Ford Mustang (412 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 251 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2012 Ford Mustang weights approximately 112 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 Mustang (528 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 146 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (382 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 2012 Ford Mustang 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 Mustang | |
Make | Mercury | Ford |
Model | Cougar | Mustang |
Year Released | 1974 | 2012 |
Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 5752 cc | 5000 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | V |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 161 HP | 412 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 382 Nm | 528 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4250 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | 6-speed manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1575 kg | 1687 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5010 mm | 4778 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1877 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1417 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2720 mm |