1979 Mercury Cougar vs. 1981 Nissan Cherry
To start off, 1981 Nissan Cherry is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Mercury Cougar (134 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 75 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Cherry. (59 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1979 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Cherry. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 1030 kg more than 1981 Nissan Cherry. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1979 Mercury Cougar 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 1979 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Cherry, 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, 1979 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 240 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Cherry. (96 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1979 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Cherry.
Compare all specifications:
1979 Mercury Cougar | 1981 Nissan Cherry | |
Make | Mercury | Nissan |
Model | Cougar | Cherry |
Year Released | 1979 | 1981 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4942 cc | 1270 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 134 HP | 59 HP |
Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 5600 RPM |
Torque | 336 Nm | 96 Nm |
Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 3600 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Front |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1855 kg | 825 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 3900 mm |
Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1610 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1370 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2400 mm |