2005 Ford Ranger vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2005 Ford Ranger is newer by 32 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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (168 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 64 more horse power than 2005 Ford Ranger. (104 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 2005 Ford Ranger. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 732 kg more than 2005 Ford Ranger. 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 (375 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 203 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 Ford Ranger. (172 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 Ford Ranger.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 Ford Ranger | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Ranger | Cougar |
| Year Released | 2005 | 1973 |
| Body Type | Pickup | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2184 cc | 6589 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 104 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 172 Nm | 375 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1323 kg | 2055 kg |
| Wheelbase Size | 2990 mm | 2910 mm |
