1981 BMW 520 vs. 1978 Buick Century
To start off, 1981 BMW 520 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Buick Century. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Buick Century would be higher. At 3,213 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Buick Century is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 BMW 520 (123 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1978 Buick Century. (104 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1978 Buick Century. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Buick Century weights approximately 210 kg more than 1981 BMW 520.
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, 1978 Buick Century (217 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 47 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 520. (170 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Buick Century will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
1981 BMW 520 | 1978 Buick Century | |
Make | BMW | Buick |
Model | 520 | Century |
Year Released | 1981 | 1978 |
Body Type | Sedan | Station Wagon |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1991 cc | 3213 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 123 HP | 104 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 170 Nm | 217 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1220 kg | 1430 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4990 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1790 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1410 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2760 mm |