1988 BMW 520 vs. 1973 Opel Commodore
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Opel Commodore. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Opel Commodore would be higher. At 2,488 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Opel Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 520 (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1973 Opel Commodore. (114 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1973 Opel Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 400 kg more than 1973 Opel Commodore. 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, 1973 Opel Commodore (177 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1973 Opel Commodore will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 520. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1973 Opel Commodore has manual transmission. 1973 Opel Commodore 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 | 1973 Opel Commodore | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 520 | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 2488 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 177 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 87 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4620 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2680 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 70 L |
