1996 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 1981 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1996 Chevrolet Corvette is newer by 15 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 5,733 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 Chevrolet Corvette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Chevrolet Corvette (325 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 211 more horse power than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (114 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Chevrolet Corvette should accelerate faster than 1981 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Chevrolet Corvette weights approximately 167 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, 1996 Chevrolet Corvette (461 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 224 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Mercury Cougar. (237 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1996 Chevrolet Corvette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
1996 Chevrolet Corvette | 1981 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Chevrolet | Mercury |
Model | Corvette | Cougar |
Year Released | 1996 | 1981 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 5733 cc | 3797 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Horse Power | 325 HP | 114 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 461 Nm | 237 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2600 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1523 kg | 1356 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4540 mm | 4960 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1840 mm | 1810 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1370 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2660 mm | 2690 mm |