2009 Mercury Mountaineer vs. 1978 Plymouth Volare
To start off, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Plymouth Volare. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Plymouth Volare would be higher. At 4,606 cc (8 cylinders), 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer (292 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 192 more horse power than 1978 Plymouth Volare. (100 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer should accelerate faster than 1978 Plymouth Volare. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer weights approximately 347 kg more than 1978 Plymouth Volare. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer (427 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 196 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Plymouth Volare. (231 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 2009 Mercury Mountaineer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Plymouth Volare.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 Mercury Mountaineer | 1978 Plymouth Volare | |
| Make | Mercury | Plymouth |
| Model | Mountaineer | Volare |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4606 cc | 3685 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 292 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 427 Nm | 231 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 7 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1832 kg | 1485 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 5120 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1860 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2890 mm | 2870 mm |
