1979 Ford Fairlane vs. 1972 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1979 Ford Fairlane is newer by 7 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 4,940 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Ford Fairlane (185 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 104 more horse power than 1972 Mercury Comet. (81 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1972 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 206 kg more than 1972 Mercury Comet. 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, 1979 Ford Fairlane (344 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 169 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Mercury Comet. (175 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Mercury Comet.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Ford Fairlane | 1972 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Fairlane | Comet |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4940 cc | 2782 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 185 HP | 81 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 344 Nm | 175 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1430 kg | 1224 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5020 mm | 4620 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2630 mm |
