1986 Ford Escort vs. 1974 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1986 Ford Escort is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 4,095 cc (6 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Montego (96 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1986 Ford Escort. (48 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Montego should accelerate faster than 1986 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Montego weights approximately 825 kg more than 1986 Ford Escort. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1974 Mercury Montego is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1974 Mercury Montego. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1986 Ford Escort, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1974 Mercury Montego (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 165 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Ford Escort. (83 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1986 Ford Escort | 1974 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Escort | Montego |
| Year Released | 1986 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1115 cc | 4095 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 48 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 83 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 6 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 870 kg | 1695 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4090 mm | 5300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 3010 mm |
