1971 BMW 3 vs. 1980 Opel Commodore
To start off, 1980 Opel Commodore is newer by 9 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 2,986 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 BMW 3 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 BMW 3 (200 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 85 more horse power than 1980 Opel Commodore. (115 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1980 Opel Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 BMW 3 weights approximately 68 kg more than 1980 Opel Commodore. 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, 1971 BMW 3 (271 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 92 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Opel Commodore. (179 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1971 BMW 3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Opel Commodore.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 BMW 3 | 1980 Opel Commodore | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 3 | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 2490 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 200 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 271 Nm | 179 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Top Speed | 206 km/hour | 187 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1312 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4720 mm | 4740 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2700 mm | 2680 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 75 L | 70 L |
