1978 Fiat Ritmo vs. 1970 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1978 Fiat Ritmo is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Mercury Cougar (167 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 103 more horse power than 1978 Fiat Ritmo. (64 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1970 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat Ritmo. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 790 kg more than 1978 Fiat Ritmo. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1970 Mercury Cougar is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1970 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1978 Fiat Ritmo, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1970 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 265 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat Ritmo. (98 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1970 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat Ritmo.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Fiat Ritmo | 1970 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Fiat | Mercury |
| Model | Ritmo | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1301 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 64 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 98 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 86.4 mm | 101.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 55.5 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.1:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 860 kg | 1650 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3940 mm | 5840 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 2000 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2460 mm | 2860 mm |
