1986 BMW 325 vs. 1978 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1986 BMW 325 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 BMW 325 (171 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Cougar. (133 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1986 BMW 325 should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 600 kg more than 1986 BMW 325.
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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 110 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 BMW 325. (226 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 BMW 325.
Compare all specifications:
| 1986 BMW 325 | 1978 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 325 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1986 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2493 cc | 4941 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 226 Nm | 336 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1255 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2910 mm |
