1981 BMW 525 vs. 1980 Ford Escort
To start off, 1981 BMW 525 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Escort would be higher. At 2,495 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 BMW 525 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 BMW 525 (148 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 105 more horse power than 1980 Ford Escort. (43 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 BMW 525 should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 BMW 525 weights approximately 377 kg more than 1980 Ford Escort. 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 BMW 525 (215 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 144 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Escort. (71 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 BMW 525 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 BMW 525 | 1980 Ford Escort | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 525 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2495 cc | 1098 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 43 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 215 Nm | 71 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 86.1 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71.6 mm | 53.3 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1280 kg | 903 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2830 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 45 L |
