2003 Caterham 7 vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2003 Caterham 7 is newer by 30 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 6,589 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Caterham 7 (200 HP @ 7500 RPM) has 32 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (168 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 1565 kg more than 2003 Caterham 7.
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 (375 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 165 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Caterham 7. (210 Nm @ 5750 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
2003 Caterham 7 | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Caterham | Mercury |
Model | 7 | Cougar |
Year Released | 2003 | 1973 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1796 cc | 6589 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 200 HP | 168 HP |
Engine RPM | 7500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
Torque | 210 Nm | 375 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5750 RPM | 2000 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 490 kg | 2055 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 5480 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 2010 mm |
Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2910 mm |