1974 Alfa Romeo Spider vs. 1981 BMW 518
To start off, 1981 BMW 518 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider would be higher. At 1,766 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 BMW 518 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 BMW 518 (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider. (89 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 BMW 518 should accelerate faster than 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 BMW 518 weights approximately 156 kg more than 1974 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, 1981 BMW 518 (140 Nm) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider. (121 Nm). This means 1981 BMW 518 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider | 1981 BMW 518 | |
| Make | Alfa Romeo | BMW |
| Model | Spider | 518 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1289 cc | 1766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 121 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 89 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 67.5 mm | 71.1 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 984 kg | 1140 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4130 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2630 mm |
