2006 Ford Ranger vs. 1971 Mercury Monterey
To start off, 2006 Ford Ranger is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Mercury Monterey. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Mercury Monterey would be higher. At 5,768 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Mercury Monterey is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2006 Ford Ranger (206 HP @ 5250 RPM) has 43 more horse power than 1971 Mercury Monterey. (163 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2006 Ford Ranger should accelerate faster than 1971 Mercury Monterey. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercury Monterey weights approximately 722 kg more than 2006 Ford Ranger.
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, 1971 Mercury Monterey (383 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 60 more torque (in Nm) than 2006 Ford Ranger. (323 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Mercury Monterey will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2006 Ford Ranger.
Compare all specifications:
| 2006 Ford Ranger | 1971 Mercury Monterey | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Ranger | Monterey |
| Year Released | 2006 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4016 cc | 5768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 206 HP | 163 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 323 Nm | 383 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 100.4 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.4 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1208 kg | 1930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5150 mm | 5720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3010 mm | 3160 mm |
