1978 BMW 520 vs. 2006 Ford Ranger
To start off, 2006 Ford Ranger is newer by 28 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 2,184 cc (4 cylinders), 2006 Ford Ranger is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 BMW 520 (135 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 2006 Ford Ranger. (104 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 2006 Ford Ranger. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2006 Ford Ranger weights approximately 1186 kg more than 1978 BMW 520.
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, 1978 BMW 520 (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM) has 106 more torque (in Nm) than 2006 Ford Ranger. (174 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2006 Ford Ranger.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 BMW 520 | 2006 Ford Ranger | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Ranger |
| Year Released | 1978 | 2006 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Pickup |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1951 cc | 2184 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 104 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 280 Nm | 174 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 19.0:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1670 kg | 2856 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 2120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2990 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 6.1 L/100km | 15.7 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 80 L |
