1977 Ford Cortina vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1977 Ford Cortina is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 7,542 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Cougar (213 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 127 more horse power than 1977 Ford Cortina. (86 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1977 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 995 kg more than 1977 Ford Cortina. 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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (498 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 358 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 Ford Cortina. (140 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1977 Ford Cortina | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Cortina | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1977 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1997 cc | 7542 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 86 HP | 213 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 498 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1110 kg | 2105 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2910 mm |
