1981 BMW 518 vs. 1974 Ford Capri
To start off, 1981 BMW 518 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Ford Capri would be higher. At 2,294 cc (6 cylinders), 1974 Ford Capri is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Ford Capri (106 HP @ 5100 RPM) has 16 more horse power than 1981 BMW 518. (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Ford Capri should accelerate faster than 1981 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 BMW 518 weights approximately 20 kg more than 1974 Ford Capri.
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, 1974 Ford Capri (174 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 34 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 518. (140 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1974 Ford Capri will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 518.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 BMW 518 | 1974 Ford Capri | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 518 | Capri |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1974 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 2294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 106 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5100 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 174 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 90.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71.1 mm | 60.1 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1140 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2560 mm |
