1996 BMW M3 vs. 1970 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1996 BMW M3 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 4,092 cc (6 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW M3 (328 HP @ 7400 RPM) has 230 more horse power than 1970 Mercury Comet. (98 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW M3 should accelerate faster than 1970 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW M3 weights approximately 362 kg more than 1970 Mercury Comet. 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, 1996 BMW M3 (350 Nm @ 3250 RPM) has 102 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Mercury Comet. (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1996 BMW M3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Mercury Comet.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW M3 | 1970 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | M3 | Comet |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1970 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3169 cc | 4092 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 328 HP | 98 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7400 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 350 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3250 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 86.4 mm | 93.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 91 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.3:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1632 kg | 1270 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4440 mm | 4620 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2720 mm | 2630 mm |
