1998 Honda Prelude vs. 1974 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1998 Honda Prelude is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 6,555 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Montego (168 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1998 Honda Prelude. (131 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Montego should accelerate faster than 1998 Honda Prelude. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Montego weights approximately 619 kg more than 1998 Honda Prelude. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1974 Mercury Montego 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 1974 Mercury Montego. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1998 Honda Prelude, 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, 1974 Mercury Montego (403 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 225 more torque (in Nm) than 1998 Honda Prelude. (178 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1998 Honda Prelude. 1974 Mercury Montego has automatic transmission and 1998 Honda Prelude has manual transmission. 1998 Honda Prelude will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1974 Mercury Montego will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Honda Prelude | 1974 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Honda | Mercury |
| Model | Prelude | Montego |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1996 cc | 6555 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 131 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 178 Nm | 403 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 85 mm | 101.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1240 kg | 1859 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4530 mm | 5840 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 2000 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 3000 mm |
