1980 Fiat 131 vs. 1989 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1989 Mercury Cougar is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Fiat 131. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Fiat 131 would be higher. At 3,799 cc (6 cylinders), 1989 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Mercury Cougar (140 HP) has 87 more horse power than 1980 Fiat 131. (53 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1980 Fiat 131.
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, 1989 Mercury Cougar (292 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 198 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Fiat 131. (94 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1989 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Fiat 131. 1989 Mercury Cougar has automatic transmission and 1980 Fiat 131 has manual transmission. 1980 Fiat 131 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Mercury Cougar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Fiat 131 | 1989 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Fiat | Mercury |
| Model | 131 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1297 cc | 3799 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 53 HP | 140 HP |
| Torque | 94 Nm | 292 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 5050 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1850 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2880 mm |
