1956 BMW 503 vs. 2012 Honda Civic
To start off, 2012 Honda Civic is newer by 56 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 BMW 503. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 BMW 503 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 BMW 503 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 138 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 503 weights approximately 180 kg more than 2012 Honda Civic.
Because 1956 BMW 503 is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1956 BMW 503. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2012 Honda Civic, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1956 BMW 503 (222 Nm) has 48 more torque (in Nm) than 2012 Honda Civic. (174 Nm). This means 1956 BMW 503 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2012 Honda Civic. 2012 Honda Civic has automatic transmission and 1956 BMW 503 has manual transmission. 1956 BMW 503 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2012 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 BMW 503 | 2012 Honda Civic | |
| Make | BMW | Honda |
| Model | 503 | Civic |
| Year Released | 1956 | 2012 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3168 cc | 1799 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 138 HP |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 174 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 87.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.3:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 190 km/hour | 204 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1500 kg | 1320 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1785 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1460 mm |
