1954 BMW 502 vs. 1981 Renault 5
To start off, 1981 Renault 5 is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 BMW 502. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 BMW 502 would be higher. At 2,578 cc (8 cylinders), 1954 BMW 502 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Renault 5 (158 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 58 more horse power than 1954 BMW 502. (100 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Renault 5 should accelerate faster than 1954 BMW 502. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1954 BMW 502 weights approximately 360 kg more than 1981 Renault 5.
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, both vehicles can yield 221 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles.
Compare all specifications:
| 1954 BMW 502 | 1981 Renault 5 | |
| Make | BMW | Renault |
| Model | 502 | 5 |
| Year Released | 1954 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2578 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 74 mm | 76 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.9:1 | 7.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 166 km/hour | 209 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1410 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4710 mm | 3670 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2460 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 51 L |
