1981 BMW 518 vs. 1971 Buick Riviera
To start off, 1981 BMW 518 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Buick Riviera. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Buick Riviera would be higher. At 7,468 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Buick Riviera (311 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 221 more horse power than 1981 BMW 518. (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1981 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 900 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, 1971 Buick Riviera (617 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 477 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 518. (140 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 518. 1971 Buick Riviera 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. 1971 Buick Riviera will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 BMW 518 | 1971 Buick Riviera | |
| Make | BMW | Buick |
| Model | 518 | Riviera |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1971 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 7468 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 311 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 617 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1140 kg | 2040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 5560 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 2040 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 3110 mm |
