1981 Mercury Cougar vs. 1977 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1981 Mercury Cougar is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1977 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1977 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1977 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 Pontiac Firebird (145 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (114 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1981 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 240 kg more than 1981 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, 1977 Pontiac Firebird (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 87 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (237 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1977 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
1981 Mercury Cougar | 1977 Pontiac Firebird | |
Make | Mercury | Pontiac |
Model | Cougar | Firebird |
Year Released | 1981 | 1977 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3797 cc | 5012 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 114 HP | 145 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
Torque | 237 Nm | 324 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1356 kg | 1596 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4960 mm | 4880 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1870 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1290 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2750 mm |