1979 Austin Marina vs. 1996 BMW 523
To start off, 1996 BMW 523 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Austin Marina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Austin Marina would be higher. At 2,494 cc (6 cylinders), 1996 BMW 523 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 523 (170 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 111 more horse power than 1979 Austin Marina. (59 HP @ 5250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 523 should accelerate faster than 1979 Austin Marina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 523 weights approximately 665 kg more than 1979 Austin Marina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1996 BMW 523 (245 Nm @ 3950 RPM) has 143 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Austin Marina. (102 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 523 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Austin Marina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Austin Marina | 1996 BMW 523 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | Marina | 523 |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1274 cc | 2494 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 170 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 102 Nm | 245 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3950 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 70.6 mm | 84.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81.3 mm | 75 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 880 kg | 1545 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4230 mm | 4780 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2840 mm |
