1981 Mercury Cougar vs. 1970 Opel Manta
To start off, 1981 Mercury Cougar is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Opel Manta. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Opel Manta 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 55 more horse power than 1970 Opel Manta. (59 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1970 Opel Manta. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 426 kg more than 1970 Opel Manta. 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 147 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Opel Manta. (90 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Opel Manta.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Mercury Cougar | 1970 Opel Manta | |
| Make | Mercury | Opel |
| Model | Cougar | Manta |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3797 cc | 1196 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 114 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 237 Nm | 90 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1356 kg | 930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4960 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2440 mm |
