1988 Mazda RX-7 vs. 1971 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1988 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 4,095 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Mazda RX-7 (148 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 52 more horse power than 1971 Mercury Montego. (96 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Mazda RX-7 should accelerate faster than 1971 Mercury Montego. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercury Montego weights approximately 465 kg more than 1988 Mazda RX-7.
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, 1971 Mercury Montego (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 62 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Mazda RX-7. (186 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Mazda RX-7.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Mazda RX-7 | 1971 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Mazda | Mercury |
| Model | RX-7 | Montego |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2616 cc | 4095 cc |
| Engine Type | dual-disk rotary | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 186 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 6 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1230 kg | 1695 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 5300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1270 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 3010 mm |
