1978 Ferrari 308 vs. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ferrari 308. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ferrari 308 would be higher. At 4,606 cc (8 cylinders), 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ferrari 308 (255 HP @ 7700 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. (225 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ferrari 308 should accelerate faster than 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 467 kg more than 1978 Ferrari 308.
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, 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis (373 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 90 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ferrari 308. (283 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ferrari 308. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis has automatic transmission and 1978 Ferrari 308 has manual transmission. 1978 Ferrari 308 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ferrari 308 | 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Ferrari | Mercury |
| Model | 308 | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 1978 | 2008 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2927 cc | 4606 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 255 HP | 225 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7700 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 283 Nm | 373 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1365 kg | 1832 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4310 mm | 5370 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 2000 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1220 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2560 mm | 2920 mm |
