1997 BMW M3 vs. 1989 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1997 BMW M3 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1989 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1989 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 3,799 cc (6 cylinders), 1989 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 BMW M3 (240 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 100 more horse power than 1989 Mercury Cougar. (140 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 BMW M3 should accelerate faster than 1989 Mercury Cougar.
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, 1989 Mercury Cougar (292 Nm) has 56 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 BMW M3. (236 Nm). This means 1989 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 BMW M3. 1989 Mercury Cougar 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. 1989 Mercury Cougar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1997 BMW M3 | 1989 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | BMW | Mercury |
Model | M3 | Cougar |
Year Released | 1997 | 1989 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3201 cc | 3799 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 240 HP | 140 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 3800 RPM |
Torque | 236 Nm | 292 Nm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Length | 4440 mm | 5050 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1850 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2880 mm |