1981 BMW 520 vs. 1988 Porsche 911
To start off, 1988 Porsche 911 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 BMW 520 would be higher. At 3,164 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Porsche 911 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Porsche 911 (229 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 106 more horse power than 1981 BMW 520. (123 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Porsche 911 should accelerate faster than 1981 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Porsche 911 weights approximately 10 kg more than 1981 BMW 520. 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, 1988 Porsche 911 (286 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 116 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 520. (170 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1988 Porsche 911 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
1981 BMW 520 | 1988 Porsche 911 | |
Make | BMW | Porsche |
Model | 520 | 911 |
Year Released | 1981 | 1988 |
Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Rear |
Engine Size | 1991 cc | 3164 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
Horse Power | 123 HP | 229 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 5900 RPM |
Torque | 170 Nm | 286 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 74.4 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1220 kg | 1230 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4300 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1660 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1330 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2280 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 80 L |