1974 Mercury Monterey vs. 1985 Reliant Scimitar
To start off, 1985 Reliant Scimitar is newer by 11 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. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Monterey (163 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1985 Reliant Scimitar. (133 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Monterey should accelerate faster than 1985 Reliant Scimitar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Monterey weights approximately 665 kg more than 1985 Reliant Scimitar. 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, 1974 Mercury Monterey (383 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 177 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Reliant Scimitar. (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Monterey will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Reliant Scimitar. 1974 Mercury Monterey has automatic transmission and 1985 Reliant Scimitar has manual transmission. 1985 Reliant Scimitar 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 | 1985 Reliant Scimitar | |
| Make | Mercury | Reliant |
| Model | Monterey | Scimitar |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5769 cc | 2790 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 163 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 383 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1930 kg | 1265 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5720 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2030 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3160 mm | 2640 mm |
