1974 Mercury Monterey vs. 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
To start off, 1974 Mercury Monterey is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Monterey is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Monterey (163 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 3 more horse power than 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. (160 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Monterey should accelerate faster than 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser weights approximately 15 kg more than 1974 Mercury Monterey.
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 Monterey (383 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. (380 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Monterey will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Mercury Monterey | 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser | |
| Make | Mercury | Oldsmobile |
| Model | Monterey | Vista Cruiser |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5769 cc | 5734 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 163 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 383 Nm | 380 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1930 kg | 1945 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5720 mm | 5560 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2030 mm | 1960 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3160 mm | 3080 mm |
