1998 BMW 318 vs. 1978 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1998 BMW 318 is newer by 20 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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (133 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1998 BMW 318. (114 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1998 BMW 318. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 410 kg more than 1998 BMW 318. 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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 167 more torque (in Nm) than 1998 BMW 318. (169 Nm @ 3900 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1998 BMW 318.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 BMW 318 | 1978 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 318 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 4941 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 114 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 169 Nm | 336 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3900 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1445 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2910 mm |
