1980 BMW 628 vs. 1982 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1982 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 BMW 628. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 BMW 628 would be higher. At 3,275 cc (6 cylinders), 1982 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 BMW 628 (181 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 94 more horse power than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. (87 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 BMW 628 should accelerate faster than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 BMW 628 weights approximately 34 kg more than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. 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, 1980 BMW 628 (240 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 31 more torque (in Nm) than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. (209 Nm @ 1400 RPM). This means 1980 BMW 628 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. 1982 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1980 BMW 628 has manual transmission. 1980 BMW 628 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1982 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 BMW 628 | 1982 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 628 | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1982 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2787 cc | 3275 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 181 HP | 87 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 240 Nm | 209 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1400 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.3:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1470 kg | 1436 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 5100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2760 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 80 L |
