2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 1981 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 3,797 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Mercury Cougar (114 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (110 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 276 kg more than 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata. 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, 1981 Mercury Cougar (237 Nm) has 76 more torque (in Nm) than 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (161 Nm). This means 1981 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Compare all specifications:
2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata | 1981 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Mazda | Mercury |
Model | MX-5 Miata | Cougar |
Year Released | 2000 | 1981 |
Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1798 cc | 3797 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 110 HP | 114 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 161 Nm | 237 Nm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 1356 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3950 mm | 4960 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1810 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1230 mm | 1370 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2270 mm | 2690 mm |