2009 BMW 120 vs. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 2009 BMW 120 is newer by 31 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 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 BMW 120 (154 HP @ 6700 RPM) has 25 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (129 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 BMW 120 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 165 kg more than 2009 BMW 120.
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 (303 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 103 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 BMW 120. (200 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 BMW 120.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 BMW 120 | 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 120 | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1995 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 154 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6700 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 200 Nm | 303 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84.1 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1525 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4250 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1750 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2910 mm |
