1954 Austin Princess vs. 1989 BMW 850
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Austin Princess would be higher. At 4,988 cc (12 cylinders), 1989 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 BMW 850 (296 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 178 more horse power than 1954 Austin Princess. (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1954 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1954 Austin Princess weights approximately 925 kg more than 1989 BMW 850.
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, 1989 BMW 850 (450 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 198 more torque (in Nm) than 1954 Austin Princess. (252 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1954 Austin Princess. 1989 BMW 850 has automatic transmission and 1954 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1954 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 BMW 850 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1954 Austin Princess | 1989 BMW 850 | |
Make | Austin | BMW |
Model | Princess | 850 |
Year Released | 1954 | 1989 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3993 cc | 4988 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 118 HP | 296 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
Torque | 252 Nm | 450 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4100 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1255 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4790 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1350 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2690 mm |