2009 BMW 550 vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2009 BMW 550 is newer by 36 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 7,542 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 BMW 550 (362 HP @ 6300 RPM) has 149 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (213 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 BMW 550 should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Cougar.
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 (498 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 7 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 BMW 550. (491 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 BMW 550.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 BMW 550 | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 550 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4799 cc | 7542 cc |
| Horse Power | 362 HP | 213 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6300 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 491 Nm | 498 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3400 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4850 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1470 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1850 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2890 mm | 2910 mm |
