1986 Ford Sierra vs. 1974 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1986 Ford Sierra is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,752 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Cougar (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 72 more horse power than 1986 Ford Sierra. (89 HP @ 5400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1986 Ford Sierra. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 561 kg more than 1986 Ford Sierra. 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, 1974 Mercury Cougar (382 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 239 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Ford Sierra. (143 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Ford Sierra.
Compare all specifications:
| 1986 Ford Sierra | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Sierra | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1986 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1769 cc | 5752 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 161 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 143 Nm | 382 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1014 kg | 1575 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4400 mm | 5010 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2620 mm | 2860 mm |
