1978 Daihatsu Charmant vs. 1982 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1982 Mercury Cougar is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Daihatsu Charmant. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Daihatsu Charmant would be higher. At 2,301 cc (4 cylinders), 1982 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1982 Mercury Cougar (91 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 1978 Daihatsu Charmant. (67 HP @ 5600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1982 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1978 Daihatsu Charmant. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 525 kg more than 1978 Daihatsu Charmant. 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, 1982 Mercury Cougar (164 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 61 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Daihatsu Charmant. (103 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1982 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Daihatsu Charmant.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Daihatsu Charmant | 1982 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Daihatsu | Mercury |
| Model | Charmant | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1982 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1289 cc | 2301 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 67 HP | 91 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 103 Nm | 164 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 790 kg | 1315 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4000 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1530 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2340 mm | 2690 mm |
