1997 Maserati Ghibli vs. 1978 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1997 Maserati Ghibli is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Maserati Ghibli (302 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 169 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Cougar. (133 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Maserati Ghibli should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 490 kg more than 1997 Maserati Ghibli.
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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 Maserati Ghibli. (334 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 Maserati Ghibli.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Maserati Ghibli | 1978 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Maserati | Mercury |
| Model | Ghibli | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1996 cc | 4941 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 302 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 334 Nm | 336 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1365 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4230 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1310 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2910 mm |
