1974 BMW 3 vs. 1980 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1980 Ford Fairlane is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 BMW 3. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 BMW 3 would be higher. At 4,093 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 BMW 3 (200 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 76 more horse power than 1980 Ford Fairlane. (124 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 BMW 3 weights approximately 29 kg more than 1980 Ford Fairlane. 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, 1980 Ford Fairlane (296 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 26 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 BMW 3. (270 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1980 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 BMW 3. 1980 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1974 BMW 3 has manual transmission. 1974 BMW 3 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 BMW 3 | 1980 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 3 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 4093 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 200 HP | 124 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 270 Nm | 296 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1433 kg | 1404 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4720 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2700 mm | 2950 mm |
