1977 BMW 520 vs. 1979 Volvo 66
To start off, 1979 Volvo 66 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1977 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1977 BMW 520 would be higher. At 1,951 cc (4 cylinders), 1977 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 BMW 520 (134 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 78 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 66. (56 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1977 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 66.
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, 1977 BMW 520 (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM) has 186 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 66. (94 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1977 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 66. 1979 Volvo 66 has automatic transmission and 1977 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 1977 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Volvo 66 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1977 BMW 520 | 1979 Volvo 66 | |
| Make | BMW | Volvo |
| Model | 520 | 66 |
| Year Released | 1977 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1951 cc | 1289 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 134 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 280 Nm | 94 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 73 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 19.0:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 3910 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1550 mm |
