1971 BMW 3 vs. 1992 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 1992 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 21 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 4,598 cc (8 cylinders), 1992 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1992 Ford Crown Victoria (208 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 28 more horse power than 1971 BMW 3. (180 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1992 Ford Crown Victoria should accelerate faster than 1971 BMW 3. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1992 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 335 kg more than 1971 BMW 3. 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, 1992 Ford Crown Victoria (386 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 131 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 BMW 3. (255 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1992 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 BMW 3. 1992 Ford Crown Victoria has automatic transmission and 1971 BMW 3 has manual transmission. 1971 BMW 3 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1992 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 BMW 3 | 1992 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 3 | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1992 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 4598 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 180 HP | 208 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 255 Nm | 386 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 90.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 211 km/hour | 201 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1715 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2910 mm |
