1981 Mercury Cougar vs. 2012 Toyota Tundra
To start off, 2012 Toyota Tundra is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 3,998 cc (6 cylinders), 2012 Toyota Tundra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Toyota Tundra (233 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 119 more horse power than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (114 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Toyota Tundra should accelerate faster than 1981 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 282 kg more than 2012 Toyota Tundra.
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, 2012 Toyota Tundra (266 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (237 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 2012 Toyota Tundra will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Mercury Cougar | 2012 Toyota Tundra | |
| Make | Mercury | Toyota |
| Model | Cougar | Tundra |
| Year Released | 1981 | 2012 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Pickup |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3797 cc | 3998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 114 HP | 233 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 237 Nm | 266 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1356 kg | 1074 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4960 mm | 4550 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2610 mm |
