1970 Alfa Romeo Spider vs. 1997 BMW 850
To start off, 1997 BMW 850 is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider would be higher. At 5,379 cc (12 cylinders), 1997 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 BMW 850 (329 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 226 more horse power than 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider. (103 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1997 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 BMW 850 weights approximately 955 kg more than 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1997 BMW 850 (490 Nm) has 352 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider. (138 Nm). This means 1997 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider. 1997 BMW 850 has automatic transmission and 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider has manual transmission. 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1997 BMW 850 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Alfa Romeo Spider | 1997 BMW 850 | |
| Make | Alfa Romeo | BMW |
| Model | Spider | 850 |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1997 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1290 cc | 5379 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 103 HP | 329 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 490 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 78 mm | 85.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 67.5 mm | 79 mm |
| Top Speed | 174 km/hour | 249 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 990 kg | 1945 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4130 mm | 4790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2690 mm |
