1988 BMW 535 vs. 1972 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1988 BMW 535 is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 535 (215 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1972 Mercury Cougar. (167 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 535 should accelerate faster than 1972 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 126 kg more than 1988 BMW 535.
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, 1972 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 535. (310 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 535.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 535 | 1972 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 535 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1972 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3430 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1530 kg | 1656 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 5080 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2860 mm |
