1971 BMW 3 vs. 1978 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1978 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 BMW 3. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 BMW 3 would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 BMW 3 (180 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 35 more horse power than 1978 Pontiac Firebird. (145 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1978 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 216 kg more than 1971 BMW 3.
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, 1978 Pontiac Firebird (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 69 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 BMW 3. (255 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1978 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 BMW 3.
Compare all specifications:
1971 BMW 3 | 1978 Pontiac Firebird | |
Make | BMW | Pontiac |
Model | 3 | Firebird |
Year Released | 1971 | 1978 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2986 cc | 5012 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 180 HP | 145 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
Torque | 255 Nm | 324 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 95 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 88.4 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.6:1 |
Top Speed | 211 km/hour | 160 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1596 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4880 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1870 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1290 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2750 mm |