1978 Mazda 626 vs. 1972 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1978 Mazda 626 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 2,780 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 626 (93 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1972 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 626 should accelerate faster than 1972 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Comet weights approximately 225 kg more than 1978 Mazda 626.
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, 1972 Mercury Comet (178 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 626. (150 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 626.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Mazda 626 | 1972 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Mazda | Mercury |
| Model | 626 | Comet |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1768 cc | 2780 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 93 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 150 Nm | 178 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3300 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 995 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4310 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1670 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2800 mm |
