1964 Austin Princess vs. 1996 BMW 840
To start off, 1996 BMW 840 is newer by 32 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Austin Princess would be higher. At 4,398 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 BMW 840 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 840 (282 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 163 more horse power than 1964 Austin Princess. (119 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 840 should accelerate faster than 1964 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1964 Austin Princess weights approximately 290 kg more than 1996 BMW 840.
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, 1996 BMW 840 (440 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 189 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Austin Princess. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 840 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Austin Princess. 1996 BMW 840 has automatic transmission and 1964 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1964 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1996 BMW 840 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Austin Princess | 1996 BMW 840 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | Princess | 840 |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 4398 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 119 HP | 282 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 440 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3900 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1890 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 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 90 L |
