1988 BMW 520 vs. 1970 Mazda RX-2
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mazda RX-2. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mazda RX-2 would be higher. At 2,292 cc, 1970 Mazda RX-2 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 520 (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1970 Mazda RX-2. (118 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1970 Mazda RX-2. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 610 kg more than 1970 Mazda RX-2. 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 BMW 520 (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Mazda RX-2. (157 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Mazda RX-2. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1970 Mazda RX-2 has manual transmission. 1970 Mazda RX-2 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 BMW 520 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 520 | 1970 Mazda RX-2 | |
| Make | BMW | Mazda |
| Model | 520 | RX-2 |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 2292 cc |
| Engine Type | in-line | dual-disk rotary |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 157 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 960 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4150 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2480 mm |
