1988 Ferrari 348 vs. 1981 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1988 Ferrari 348 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 3,797 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Ferrari 348 (295 HP @ 7200 RPM) has 181 more horse power than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (114 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Ferrari 348 should accelerate faster than 1981 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ferrari 348 weights approximately 109 kg more than 1981 Mercury Cougar. 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, 1988 Ferrari 348 (323 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 86 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (237 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1988 Ferrari 348 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Ferrari 348 | 1981 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Ferrari | Mercury |
| Model | 348 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 3404 cc | 3797 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 295 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 323 Nm | 237 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1465 kg | 1356 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4240 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1990 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2460 mm | 2690 mm |
