2003 Ford Mustang vs. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 2003 Ford Mustang is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Ford Mustang (400 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 271 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (129 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 198 kg more than 2003 Ford Mustang.
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, 2003 Ford Mustang (530 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 227 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (303 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 2003 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis.
Compare all specifications:
2003 Ford Mustang | 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Mustang | Grand Marquis |
Year Released | 2003 | 1978 |
Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4601 cc | 4942 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | V |
Horse Power | 400 HP | 129 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
Torque | 530 Nm | 303 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2600 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 90.2 mm | 101.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 76.2 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1492 kg | 1690 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 5400 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1980 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1390 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2910 mm |