1975 BMW 520 vs. 1980 Honda Civic
To start off, 1980 Honda Civic is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 BMW 520 would be higher. At 1,991 cc (4 cylinders), 1975 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1975 BMW 520 (123 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 64 more horse power than 1980 Honda Civic. (59 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1975 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1980 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 BMW 520 weights approximately 510 kg more than 1980 Honda Civic. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1975 BMW 520 is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1975 BMW 520. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1980 Honda Civic, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1975 BMW 520 (172 Nm @ 4350 RPM) has 79 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Honda Civic. (93 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1975 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1975 BMW 520 | 1980 Honda Civic | |
| Make | BMW | Honda |
| Model | 520 | Civic |
| Year Released | 1975 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 1335 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 3 valves |
| Horse Power | 123 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 172 Nm | 93 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4350 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.3:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1295 kg | 785 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 3770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2330 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 40 L |
