1981 Ford Fiesta vs. 1971 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1981 Ford Fiesta is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 2,782 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ford Fiesta (83 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1971 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ford Fiesta should accelerate faster than 1971 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercury Comet weights approximately 424 kg more than 1981 Ford Fiesta.
Because 1971 Mercury Comet 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 1971 Mercury Comet. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Ford Fiesta, 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, 1971 Mercury Comet (178 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 49 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Fiesta. (129 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1971 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Fiesta.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Fiesta | 1971 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Fiesta | Comet |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1608 cc | 2782 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 83 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 129 Nm | 178 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 800 kg | 1224 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3570 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2400 mm | 2800 mm |
