1980 BMW M5 vs. 1978 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 1980 BMW M5 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Nissan Laurel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Nissan Laurel would be higher. At 3,453 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 BMW M5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 BMW M5 (218 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 121 more horse power than 1978 Nissan Laurel. (97 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 BMW M5 should accelerate faster than 1978 Nissan Laurel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 BMW M5 weights approximately 251 kg more than 1978 Nissan Laurel. 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 M5 (304 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 157 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Nissan Laurel. (147 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1980 BMW M5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Nissan Laurel.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 BMW M5 | 1978 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | BMW | Nissan |
| Model | M5 | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3453 cc | 1770 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 218 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 304 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1391 kg | 1140 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4620 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2680 mm |
