1962 Austin Princess vs. 2012 BMW 640
To start off, 2012 BMW 640 is newer by 50 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1962 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 BMW 640 (311 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 193 more horse power than 1962 Austin Princess. (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 BMW 640 should accelerate faster than 1962 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1962 Austin Princess weights approximately 245 kg more than 2012 BMW 640.
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, 2012 BMW 640 (630 Nm @ 1500 RPM) has 379 more torque (in Nm) than 1962 Austin Princess. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 2012 BMW 640 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1962 Austin Princess. 2012 BMW 640 has automatic transmission and 1962 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1962 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2012 BMW 640 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1962 Austin Princess | 2012 BMW 640 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | Princess | 640 |
| Year Released | 1962 | 2012 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 2993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 311 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 630 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 1500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1935 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4894 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1894 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1365 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2855 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 70 L |
