1980 Mercury Cougar vs. 2011 Ford F-150
To start off, 2011 Ford F-150 is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,184 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 Ford F-150 (302 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 186 more horse power than 1980 Mercury Cougar. (116 HP @ 3400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 Ford F-150 should accelerate faster than 1980 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2011 Ford F-150 weights approximately 877 kg more than 1980 Mercury Cougar. 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, 2011 Ford F-150 (376 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 112 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Mercury Cougar. (264 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 2011 Ford F-150 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Mercury Cougar | 2011 Ford F-150 | |
| Make | Mercury | Ford |
| Model | Cougar | F-150 |
| Year Released | 1980 | 2011 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Pickup |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4184 cc | 3700 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 302 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 264 Nm | 376 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Flex Fuel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1410 kg | 2287 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4960 mm | 5888 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 2012 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1910 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 3670 mm |
