1978 BMW 520 vs. 1999 Ford Falcon
To start off, 1999 Ford Falcon is newer by 21 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 3,984 cc (6 cylinders), 1999 Ford Falcon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 Ford Falcon (232 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 97 more horse power than 1978 BMW 520. (135 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1999 Ford Falcon should accelerate faster than 1978 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 BMW 520 weights approximately 140 kg more than 1999 Ford Falcon.
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, 1999 Ford Falcon (374 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 94 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 BMW 520. (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM). This means 1999 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 BMW 520 | 1999 Ford Falcon | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Falcon |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1999 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1951 cc | 3984 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 232 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 280 Nm | 374 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 92.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 19.0:1 | 9.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1670 kg | 1530 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4910 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1880 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2840 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 68 L |
