1998 BMW 318 vs. 1980 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1998 BMW 318 is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,184 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 BMW 318 (140 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 1980 Mercury Cougar. (116 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 BMW 318 should accelerate faster than 1980 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 95 kg more than 1998 BMW 318.
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, 1980 Mercury Cougar (264 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 84 more torque (in Nm) than 1998 BMW 318. (180 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1980 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 | 1980 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 318 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1893 cc | 4184 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 180 Nm | 264 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1315 kg | 1410 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4220 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2690 mm |
