2004 Caterham 7 vs. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 26 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 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 112 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (139 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 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 1240 kg more than 2004 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, 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis (353 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 95 more torque (in Nm) than 2004 Caterham 7. (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2004 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Caterham 7 | 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Caterham | Mercury |
| Model | 7 | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1997 cc | 5766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 139 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 258 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 1710 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2910 mm |
