1990 Buick LeSabre vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1990 Buick LeSabre is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Cougar (168 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 3 more horse power than 1990 Buick LeSabre. (165 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1990 Buick LeSabre. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 174 kg more than 1990 Buick LeSabre. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1973 Mercury Cougar 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 1973 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1990 Buick LeSabre, 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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 78 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Buick LeSabre. (285 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Buick LeSabre.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 Buick LeSabre | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Buick | Mercury |
| Model | LeSabre | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1973 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3791 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 165 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 285 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 96.5 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86.4 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1476 kg | 1650 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5010 mm | 5080 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2820 mm | 2860 mm |
