2009 Ford Mustang vs. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 2009 Ford Mustang 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 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Ford Mustang (210 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 71 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (139 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 Ford Mustang 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 539 kg more than 2009 Ford Mustang.
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 (353 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 Ford Mustang. (325 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 Ford Mustang.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 Ford Mustang | 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Mustang | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4009 cc | 5766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 210 HP | 139 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 325 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1171 kg | 1710 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4770 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2910 mm |
