1979 Mazda 121 vs. 1977 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1979 Mazda 121 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1977 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1977 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1977 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 Mercury Cougar (133 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 43 more horse power than 1979 Mazda 121. (90 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1979 Mazda 121. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 721 kg more than 1979 Mazda 121. 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, 1977 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 176 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mazda 121. (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1977 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mazda 121.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Mazda 121 | 1977 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Mazda | Mercury |
| Model | 121 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 160 Nm | 336 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1134 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4510 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2910 mm |
