2003 Mazda Roadster vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2003 Mazda Roadster 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 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Cougar (168 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 20 more horse power than 2003 Mazda Roadster. (148 HP @ 7000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 2003 Mazda Roadster. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 570 kg more than 2003 Mazda Roadster. 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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 196 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Mazda Roadster. (167 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Mazda Roadster.
Compare all specifications:
2003 Mazda Roadster | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Mazda | Mercury |
Model | Roadster | Cougar |
Year Released | 2003 | 1973 |
Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1838 cc | 5769 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 148 HP | 168 HP |
Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 167 Nm | 363 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 83 mm | 101.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 85 mm | 88.8 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 1650 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3960 mm | 5080 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 1920 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1240 mm | 1310 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2270 mm | 2860 mm |