1978 Ford Mustang vs. 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis (148 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 10 more horse power than 1978 Ford Mustang. (138 HP @ 5400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Mustang. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 535 kg more than 1978 Ford Mustang. 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, 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 169 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Mustang. (197 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Mustang.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Mustang | 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Mustang | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1987 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2300 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 197 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1215 kg | 1750 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4560 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2560 mm | 2920 mm |
