1978 AMC Pacer vs. 1971 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1978 AMC Pacer is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 4,228 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 AMC Pacer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 AMC Pacer (110 HP @ 3500 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1971 Mercury Comet. (81 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 AMC Pacer should accelerate faster than 1971 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 AMC Pacer weights approximately 148 kg more than 1971 Mercury Comet. 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, 1978 AMC Pacer (265 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 90 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Mercury Comet. (175 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1978 AMC Pacer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Mercury Comet.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 AMC Pacer | 1971 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | AMC | Mercury |
| Model | Pacer | Comet |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4228 cc | 2782 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 110 HP | 81 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 265 Nm | 175 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1368 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4360 mm | 4620 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1960 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2550 mm | 2630 mm |
