1978 Ford Capri vs. 1974 Mercury Monterey
To start off, 1978 Ford Capri is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Monterey. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Monterey would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Monterey is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Monterey (163 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 55 more horse power than 1978 Ford Capri. (108 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Monterey should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Monterey weights approximately 814 kg more than 1978 Ford Capri. 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, 1974 Mercury Monterey (383 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 207 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Capri. (176 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Monterey will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Capri. 1974 Mercury Monterey has automatic transmission and 1978 Ford Capri has manual transmission. 1978 Ford Capri will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1974 Mercury Monterey will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Capri | 1974 Mercury Monterey | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Capri | Monterey |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2294 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 163 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 176 Nm | 383 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1116 kg | 1930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 5720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 3160 mm |
