2005 Lotus Exige vs. 1999 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2005 Lotus Exige is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1999 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1999 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 1,983 cc (4 cylinders), 1999 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 Lotus Exige (189 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 66 more horse power than 1999 Mercury Cougar. (123 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2005 Lotus Exige should accelerate faster than 1999 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1999 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 435 kg more than 2005 Lotus Exige.
Because 2005 Lotus Exige is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 2005 Lotus Exige. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1999 Mercury Cougar, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1999 Mercury Cougar (176 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 Lotus Exige. (174 Nm @ 6800 RPM). This means 1999 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 Lotus Exige. 1999 Mercury Cougar has automatic transmission and 2005 Lotus Exige has manual transmission. 2005 Lotus Exige will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1999 Mercury Cougar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 Lotus Exige | 1999 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercury |
| Model | Exige | Cougar |
| Year Released | 2005 | 1999 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1983 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 189 HP | 123 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 176 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 6800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 12.0:1 | 9.7:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 875 kg | 1310 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2710 mm |
