1981 BMW 518 vs. 1981 Holden Commodore
To start off, both 1981 BMW 518 and 1981 Holden Commodore were released in the same year (1981). Therefore the support and the availability on parts for both vehicles should be relatively similar. At 4,142 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Holden Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Holden Commodore (134 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 44 more horse power than 1981 BMW 518. (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Holden Commodore should accelerate faster than 1981 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Holden Commodore weights approximately 210 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, 1981 Holden Commodore (270 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 130 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 518. (140 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1981 Holden Commodore will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 518. 1981 Holden Commodore 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. 1981 Holden Commodore will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 BMW 518 | 1981 Holden Commodore | |
| Make | BMW | Holden |
| Model | 518 | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 4142 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 270 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2000 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 | 1350 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2670 mm |
