1997 BMW M3 vs. 1974 Mercury Monterey
To start off, 1997 BMW M3 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Monterey. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Monterey would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Monterey is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 BMW M3 (240 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 77 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Monterey. (163 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 BMW M3 should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Monterey. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Monterey weights approximately 630 kg more than 1997 BMW M3.
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, 1974 Mercury Monterey (383 Nm) has 147 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 BMW M3. (236 Nm). This means 1974 Mercury Monterey will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 BMW M3. 1974 Mercury Monterey has automatic transmission and 1997 BMW M3 has manual transmission. 1997 BMW M3 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1974 Mercury Monterey will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 BMW M3 | 1974 Mercury Monterey | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | M3 | Monterey |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3201 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 240 HP | 163 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 236 Nm | 383 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1300 kg | 1930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4440 mm | 5720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 3160 mm |
