1978 Mercury Cougar vs. 1966 Riley Kestrel
To start off, 1978 Mercury Cougar is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Riley Kestrel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Riley Kestrel would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mercury Cougar (133 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 80 more horse power than 1966 Riley Kestrel. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1966 Riley Kestrel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 970 kg more than 1966 Riley Kestrel. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1978 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 1978 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1966 Riley Kestrel, 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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 253 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Riley Kestrel. (83 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Riley Kestrel.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Mercury Cougar | 1966 Riley Kestrel | |
| Make | Mercury | Riley |
| Model | Cougar | Kestrel |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1966 |
| Engine Size | 4941 cc | 1098 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 133 HP | 53 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 336 Nm | 83 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Vehicle Weight | 1855 kg | 885 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 3730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1540 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2380 mm |
