1989 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1977 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1989 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1977 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1977 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1977 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Ford Thunderbird (138 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1977 Mercury Cougar. (133 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1977 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 241 kg more than 1989 Ford Thunderbird.
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, 1977 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 45 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Ford Thunderbird. (291 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1977 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Ford Thunderbird.
Compare all specifications:
1989 Ford Thunderbird | 1977 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Thunderbird | Cougar |
Year Released | 1989 | 1977 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3791 cc | 4942 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 138 HP | 133 HP |
Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 3400 RPM |
Torque | 291 Nm | 336 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 1600 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1614 kg | 1855 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 5480 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 2010 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2880 mm | 2910 mm |