1978 BMW 730 vs. 2004 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 2004 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 BMW 730. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 BMW 730 would be higher. At 4,605 cc (8 cylinders), 2004 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 BMW 730 (185 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. (176 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 BMW 730 should accelerate faster than 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2004 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 330 kg more than 1978 BMW 730.
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, 2004 Ford Crown Victoria (320 Nm) has 90 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 BMW 730. (230 Nm). This means 2004 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 BMW 730. 2004 Ford Crown Victoria has automatic transmission and 1978 BMW 730 has manual transmission. 1978 BMW 730 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2004 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 BMW 730 | 2004 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 730 | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 1978 | 2004 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2788 cc | 4605 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 185 HP | 176 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 230 Nm | 320 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 6 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1510 kg | 1840 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 5390 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1990 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2810 mm | 2920 mm |
