1981 BMW 518 vs. 1968 Toyota Century
To start off, 1981 BMW 518 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Toyota Century. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Toyota Century would be higher. At 2,981 cc (8 cylinders), 1968 Toyota Century is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Toyota Century (127 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1981 BMW 518. (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Toyota Century should accelerate faster than 1981 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1968 Toyota Century weights approximately 560 kg more than 1981 BMW 518. 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, 1968 Toyota Century (236 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 96 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 518. (140 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1968 Toyota Century will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 518. 1968 Toyota Century has automatic transmission and 1981 BMW 518 has manual transmission. 1981 BMW 518 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1968 Toyota Century will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 BMW 518 | 1968 Toyota Century | |
| Make | BMW | Toyota |
| Model | 518 | Century |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1968 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 2981 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 127 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 236 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1140 kg | 1700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2870 mm |
