2009 Mercury Mountaineer vs. 1981 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Reliant Kitten. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Reliant Kitten 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 252 more horse power than 1981 Reliant Kitten. (40 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer should accelerate faster than 1981 Reliant Kitten. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer weights approximately 1292 kg more than 1981 Reliant Kitten. 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 364 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Reliant Kitten. (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2009 Mercury Mountaineer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Reliant Kitten. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer has automatic transmission and 1981 Reliant Kitten has manual transmission. 1981 Reliant Kitten will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 Mercury Mountaineer | 1981 Reliant Kitten | |
| Make | Mercury | Reliant |
| Model | Mountaineer | Kitten |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4606 cc | 848 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 292 HP | 40 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 427 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.7:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 7 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1832 kg | 540 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 3330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1860 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2890 mm | 2150 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 85 L | 27 L |
