1983 Ford Fairlane vs. 1973 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1983 Ford Fairlane is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 4,092 cc (6 cylinders), 1983 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1983 Ford Fairlane (131 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 49 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1983 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1983 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 410 kg more than 1973 Mercury Comet. 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, 1983 Ford Fairlane (304 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 125 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Mercury Comet. (179 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1983 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Mercury Comet. 1983 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1973 Mercury Comet has manual transmission. 1973 Mercury Comet will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1983 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1983 Ford Fairlane | 1973 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Fairlane | Comet |
| Year Released | 1983 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4092 cc | 2782 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 131 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 304 Nm | 179 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1630 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5020 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2800 mm |
