1988 BMW 520 vs. 1971 Fiat 124
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Fiat 124. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Fiat 124 would be higher. At 1,989 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 520 (129 HP) has 70 more horse power than 1971 Fiat 124. (59 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1971 Fiat 124. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 640 kg more than 1971 Fiat 124. 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 87 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Fiat 124. (87 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Fiat 124. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1971 Fiat 124 has manual transmission. 1971 Fiat 124 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 | 1971 Fiat 124 | |
| Make | BMW | Fiat |
| Model | 520 | 124 |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 1197 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 59 HP |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 87 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 73 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 71.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.8:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4040 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2450 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 38 L |
