2000 Caterham 21 vs. 1971 Mercury Comet
To start off, 2000 Caterham 21 is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 2,782 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2000 Caterham 21 (230 HP @ 8600 RPM) has 148 more horse power than 1971 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2000 Caterham 21 should accelerate faster than 1971 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercury Comet weights approximately 684 kg more than 2000 Caterham 21.
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, 2000 Caterham 21 (210 Nm @ 7200 RPM) has 32 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Mercury Comet. (178 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 2000 Caterham 21 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Mercury Comet.
Compare all specifications:
| 2000 Caterham 21 | 1971 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Caterham | Mercury |
| Model | 21 | Comet |
| Year Released | 2000 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1794 cc | 2782 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 230 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8600 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 210 Nm | 178 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 7200 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 540 kg | 1224 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3860 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1800 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2800 mm |
