1997 Mercury Tracer vs. 1981 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 1997 Mercury Tracer is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Laurel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Laurel would be higher. At 1,988 cc (4 cylinders), 1997 Mercury Tracer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Mercury Tracer (109 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Laurel. (97 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Mercury Tracer should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Laurel.
Because 1981 Nissan Laurel is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1981 Nissan Laurel. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1997 Mercury Tracer, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1997 Mercury Tracer (173 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 26 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Laurel. (147 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1997 Mercury Tracer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Laurel. 1981 Nissan Laurel has automatic transmission and 1997 Mercury Tracer has manual transmission. 1997 Mercury Tracer will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Nissan Laurel will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Mercury Tracer | 1981 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Mercury | Nissan |
| Model | Tracer | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1988 cc | 1770 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 109 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 173 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1140 kg | 1140 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2510 mm | 2680 mm |
