1978 BMW 520 vs. 1990 Honda Civic
To start off, 1990 Honda Civic is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 BMW 520 would be higher. At 1,951 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Honda Civic (150 HP @ 7600 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1978 BMW 520. (135 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Honda Civic should accelerate faster than 1978 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 BMW 520 weights approximately 632 kg more than 1990 Honda Civic.
Because 1978 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 1978 BMW 520. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1990 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, 1978 BMW 520 (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM) has 136 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Honda Civic. (144 Nm @ 7100 RPM). This means 1978 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 BMW 520 | 1990 Honda Civic | |
| Make | BMW | Honda |
| Model | 520 | Civic |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1990 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Hatchback |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1951 cc | 1595 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 150 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 7600 RPM |
| Torque | 280 Nm | 144 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 7100 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88 mm | 77.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 19.0:1 | 10.2:1 |
| Top Speed | 204 km/hour | 208 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1670 kg | 1038 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 3970 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2610 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 60 L |
