1986 Honda Civic vs. 1970 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1986 Honda Civic is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Mercury Cougar (167 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 42 more horse power than 1986 Honda Civic. (125 HP @ 6500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1970 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1986 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 750 kg more than 1986 Honda Civic. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1970 Mercury Cougar 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 1970 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1986 Honda Civic, 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, 1970 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 221 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Honda Civic. (142 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1970 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1986 Honda Civic | 1970 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Honda | Mercury |
| Model | Civic | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1986 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1590 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 125 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 142 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 75.1 mm | 101.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.3:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 900 kg | 1650 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3760 mm | 5840 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 2000 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2210 mm | 2860 mm |
