1978 Mercury Cougar vs. 2013 BMW 5 Series
To start off, 2013 BMW 5 Series is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2013 BMW 5 Series (238 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 105 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Cougar. (133 HP @ 3400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2013 BMW 5 Series should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 125 kg more than 2013 BMW 5 Series.
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, 2013 BMW 5 Series (350 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 14 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercury Cougar. (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 2013 BMW 5 Series will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Mercury Cougar | 2013 BMW 5 Series | |
| Make | Mercury | BMW |
| Model | Cougar | 5 Series |
| Year Released | 1978 | 2013 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4941 cc | 1997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 133 HP | 238 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 336 Nm | 350 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1855 kg | 1730 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 4905 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 2094 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1464 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2968 mm |
