1964 Austin Princess vs. 2011 BMW 520
To start off, 2011 BMW 520 is newer by 47 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 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1964 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 BMW 520 (182 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 63 more horse power than 1964 Austin Princess. (119 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1964 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1964 Austin Princess weights approximately 510 kg more than 2011 BMW 520.
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, 2011 BMW 520 (270 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Austin Princess. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 2011 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Austin Princess. 2011 BMW 520 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. 2011 BMW 520 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Austin Princess | 2011 BMW 520 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | Princess | 520 |
| Year Released | 1964 | 2011 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 1997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 119 HP | 182 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 270 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1670 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4899 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1464 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2968 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 70 L |
