1976 Mercury Cougar vs. 2005 Nissan 350Z
To start off, 2005 Nissan 350Z is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 Nissan 350Z (287 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 135 more horse power than 1976 Mercury Cougar. (152 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2005 Nissan 350Z should accelerate faster than 1976 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 578 kg more than 2005 Nissan 350Z.
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, 1976 Mercury Cougar (377 Nm) has 14 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 Nissan 350Z. (363 Nm). This means 1976 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 Nissan 350Z.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Mercury Cougar | 2005 Nissan 350Z | |
| Make | Mercury | Nissan |
| Model | Cougar | 350Z |
| Year Released | 1976 | 2005 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5766 cc | 3491 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 152 HP | 287 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 377 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2030 kg | 1452 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2660 mm |
