1996 Chevrolet Impala vs. 1973 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1996 Chevrolet Impala is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 5,733 cc (6 cylinders), 1996 Chevrolet Impala is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Chevrolet Impala (256 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 160 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Montego. (96 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Chevrolet Impala should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Montego. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Chevrolet Impala weights approximately 155 kg more than 1973 Mercury Montego. 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 Impala (447 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 199 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Mercury Montego. (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1996 Chevrolet Impala will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Mercury Montego. 1996 Chevrolet Impala has automatic transmission and 1973 Mercury Montego has manual transmission. 1973 Mercury Montego will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1996 Chevrolet Impala will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Chevrolet Impala | 1973 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Mercury |
| Model | Impala | Montego |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5733 cc | 4095 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 256 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 447 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 93.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.4 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 6 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1850 kg | 1695 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5090 mm | 5300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 3010 mm |
