1979 Mercury Cougar vs. 1989 Alfa Romeo 164
To start off, 1989 Alfa Romeo 164 is newer by 10 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, 1989 Alfa Romeo 164 (149 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1979 Mercury Cougar. (134 HP @ 3400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Alfa Romeo 164 should accelerate faster than 1979 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 655 kg more than 1989 Alfa Romeo 164.
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, 1989 Alfa Romeo 164, 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 150 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Alfa Romeo 164. (186 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1979 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Alfa Romeo 164.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Mercury Cougar | 1989 Alfa Romeo 164 | |
| Make | Mercury | Alfa Romeo |
| Model | Cougar | 164 |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 1962 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 134 HP | 149 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 336 Nm | 186 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1855 kg | 1200 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 4650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2670 mm |
