1974 Mercury Monterey vs. 1979 Volkswagen 181
To start off, 1979 Volkswagen 181 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Monterey. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Monterey would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Monterey is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Monterey weights approximately 1030 kg more than 1979 Volkswagen 181.
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. 1974 Mercury Monterey has automatic transmission and 1979 Volkswagen 181 has manual transmission. 1979 Volkswagen 181 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1974 Mercury Monterey will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Mercury Monterey | 1979 Volkswagen 181 | |
| Make | Mercury | Volkswagen |
| Model | Monterey | 181 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 5769 cc | 1583 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 163 HP | 0 HP |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1930 kg | 900 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5720 mm | 3790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2030 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1630 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3160 mm | 2410 mm |
