1979 Honda Prelude vs. 1970 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1979 Honda Prelude is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 4,095 cc (6 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Mercury Montego (98 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 8 more horse power than 1979 Honda Prelude. (90 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1970 Mercury Montego should accelerate faster than 1979 Honda Prelude. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Mercury Montego weights approximately 805 kg more than 1979 Honda Prelude. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1970 Mercury Montego 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 1970 Mercury Montego. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1979 Honda Prelude, 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, 1970 Mercury Montego (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 113 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Honda Prelude. (135 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1970 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Honda Prelude.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Honda Prelude | 1970 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Honda | Mercury |
| Model | Prelude | Montego |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1750 cc | 4095 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 98 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 135 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 77 mm | 93.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 94 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 6 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 890 kg | 1695 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4100 mm | 5300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2330 mm | 3010 mm |
