2008 Hyundai Tiburon vs. 1989 Mercury Cougar

To start off, 2008 Hyundai Tiburon is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1989 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1989 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 3,799 cc (6 cylinders), 1989 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine.

Because 1989 Mercury Cougar 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 1989 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2008 Hyundai Tiburon, 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, 1989 Mercury Cougar (292 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 42 more torque (in Nm) than 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. (250 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1989 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. 1989 Mercury Cougar has automatic transmission and 2008 Hyundai Tiburon has manual transmission. 2008 Hyundai Tiburon will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Mercury Cougar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

2008 Hyundai Tiburon 1989 Mercury Cougar
Make Hyundai Mercury
Model Tiburon Cougar
Year Released 2008 1989
Body Type Coupe Coupe
Engine Position Front Front
Engine Size 2655 cc 3799 cc
Engine Cylinders 4 cylinders 6 cylinders
Engine Type in-line V
Valves per Cylinder 4 valves 4 valves
Horse Power 0 HP 140 HP
Torque 250 Nm 292 Nm
Torque RPM 1800 RPM 4000 RPM
Fuel Type Gasoline Gasoline
Drive Type Front Rear
Transmission Type Manual Automatic
Number of Seats 4 seats 5 seats
Number of Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Length 4290 mm 5050 mm
Vehicle Height 1490 mm 1340 mm
Wheelbase Size 2540 mm 2880 mm
Fuel Consumption Overall 11 L/100km 10.7 L/100km
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 L 72 L