1999 BMW 540 vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1999 BMW 540 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 7,542 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 BMW 540 (282 HP @ 7400 RPM) has 69 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (213 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1999 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 334 kg more than 1999 BMW 540.
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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (498 Nm) has 59 more torque (in Nm) than 1999 BMW 540. (439 Nm). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1999 BMW 540.
Compare all specifications:
| 1999 BMW 540 | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 540 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1999 | 1973 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4398 cc | 7542 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 213 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 439 Nm | 498 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1771 kg | 2105 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2910 mm |
