1983 Lincoln Continental vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1983 Lincoln Continental is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 6,589 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Cougar (168 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 39 more horse power than 1983 Lincoln Continental. (129 HP @ 3400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1983 Lincoln Continental. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 455 kg more than 1983 Lincoln Continental. 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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (375 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 65 more torque (in Nm) than 1983 Lincoln Continental. (310 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1983 Lincoln Continental.
Compare all specifications:
| 1983 Lincoln Continental | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Lincoln | Mercury |
| Model | Continental | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1983 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4940 cc | 6589 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 375 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 2055 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5120 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2760 mm | 2910 mm |
