1971 BMW 3 vs. 1984 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1984 Opel Rekord is newer by 13 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 (170 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 81 more horse power than 1984 Opel Rekord. (89 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1984 Opel Rekord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 BMW 3 weights approximately 265 kg more than 1984 Opel Rekord. 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 (254 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 111 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Opel Rekord. (143 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1971 BMW 3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Opel Rekord.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 BMW 3 | 1984 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 3 | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 170 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 254 Nm | 143 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 84.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.1:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1115 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4720 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2700 mm | 2680 mm |
