2000 Caterham C21 vs. 1972 Mercury Montego
To start off, 2000 Caterham C21 is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 5,752 cc (8 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Mercury Montego (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 46 more horse power than 2000 Caterham C21. (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1972 Mercury Montego should accelerate faster than 2000 Caterham C21. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Montego weights approximately 1335 kg more than 2000 Caterham C21. 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, 1972 Mercury Montego (374 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 229 more torque (in Nm) than 2000 Caterham C21. (145 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2000 Caterham C21. 1972 Mercury Montego has automatic transmission and 2000 Caterham C21 has manual transmission. 2000 Caterham C21 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1972 Mercury Montego will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2000 Caterham C21 | 1972 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Caterham | Mercury |
| Model | C21 | Montego |
| Year Released | 2000 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 5752 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 161 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 374 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 6 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 650 kg | 1985 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 3000 mm |
