1981 Mercury Cougar vs. 1965 Ford Zodiac
To start off, 1981 Mercury Cougar is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1965 Ford Zodiac. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1965 Ford Zodiac would be higher. At 3,797 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Mercury Cougar (114 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 6 more horse power than 1965 Ford Zodiac. (108 HP @ 4750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1965 Ford Zodiac. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 86 kg more than 1965 Ford Zodiac. 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, 1981 Mercury Cougar (237 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 47 more torque (in Nm) than 1965 Ford Zodiac. (190 Nm @ 2900 RPM). This means 1981 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1965 Ford Zodiac.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Mercury Cougar | 1965 Ford Zodiac | |
| Make | Mercury | Ford |
| Model | Cougar | Zodiac |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1965 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3797 cc | 2553 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 114 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 237 Nm | 190 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 2900 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1356 kg | 1270 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4960 mm | 4650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2780 mm |
