1987 Alfa Romeo 164 vs. 1970 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1987 Alfa Romeo 164 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 4,092 cc (6 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Alfa Romeo 164 (123 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 25 more horse power than 1970 Mercury Comet. (98 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1987 Alfa Romeo 164 should accelerate faster than 1970 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Alfa Romeo 164 weights approximately 220 kg more than 1970 Mercury Comet. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1970 Mercury Comet 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 Comet. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1987 Alfa Romeo 164, 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, 1987 Alfa Romeo 164 (294 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 46 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Mercury Comet. (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1987 Alfa Romeo 164 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Mercury Comet.
Compare all specifications:
| 1987 Alfa Romeo 164 | 1970 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Alfa Romeo | Mercury |
| Model | 164 | Comet |
| Year Released | 1987 | 1970 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2500 cc | 4092 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 123 HP | 98 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 294 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 22.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1490 kg | 1270 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4560 mm | 4620 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1770 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2630 mm |
