1960 Austin Princess vs. 1986 BMW M5
To start off, 1986 BMW M5 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1960 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1960 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1960 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 BMW M5 (218 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 100 more horse power than 1960 Austin Princess. (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1986 BMW M5 should accelerate faster than 1960 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1960 Austin Princess weights approximately 661 kg more than 1986 BMW M5.
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, 1986 BMW M5 (310 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 59 more torque (in Nm) than 1960 Austin Princess. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1986 BMW M5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1960 Austin Princess. 1986 BMW M5 has automatic transmission and 1960 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1960 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1986 BMW M5 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1960 Austin Princess | 1986 BMW M5 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | Princess | M5 |
| Year Released | 1960 | 1986 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 3428 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 218 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 310 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1519 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2630 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 120 L |
