1978 Mercury Cougar vs. 1974 Opel Ascona
To start off, 1978 Mercury Cougar is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Opel Ascona. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Opel Ascona 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 74 more horse power than 1974 Opel Ascona. (59 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1974 Opel Ascona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 945 kg more than 1974 Opel Ascona. 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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 246 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Opel Ascona. (90 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Opel Ascona.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Mercury Cougar | 1974 Opel Ascona | |
| Make | Mercury | Opel |
| Model | Cougar | Ascona |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4941 cc | 1194 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 133 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 336 Nm | 90 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1855 kg | 910 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 4140 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2440 mm |
