2004 BMW 316 vs. 1980 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2004 BMW 316 is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,184 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercury Cougar (116 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 3 more horse power than 2004 BMW 316. (113 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 2004 BMW 316. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 35 kg more than 2004 BMW 316. 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, 1980 Mercury Cougar (264 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 89 more torque (in Nm) than 2004 BMW 316. (175 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1980 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2004 BMW 316.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 BMW 316 | 1980 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 316 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1980 |
| Body Type | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 4184 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 175 Nm | 264 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1375 kg | 1410 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2690 mm |
