1979 Mercury Cougar vs. 2003 Nissan 350Z
To start off, 2003 Nissan 350Z is newer by 24 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, 2003 Nissan 350Z (265 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 131 more horse power than 1979 Mercury Cougar. (134 HP @ 3400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2003 Nissan 350Z should accelerate faster than 1979 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 365 kg more than 2003 Nissan 350Z.
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, 2003 Nissan 350Z (363 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mercury Cougar. (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 2003 Nissan 350Z will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
1979 Mercury Cougar | 2003 Nissan 350Z | |
Make | Mercury | Nissan |
Model | Cougar | 350Z |
Year Released | 1979 | 2003 |
Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4942 cc | 3490 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 134 HP | 265 HP |
Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 336 Nm | 363 Nm |
Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 4800 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1855 kg | 1490 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 4310 mm |
Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1820 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1330 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2630 mm |