1988 BMW 520 vs. 1979 Opel Ascona
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Opel Ascona. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Opel Ascona would be higher. At 2,408 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Opel Ascona is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Opel Ascona (142 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1988 BMW 520. (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Opel Ascona should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 488 kg more than 1979 Opel Ascona.
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, 1979 Opel Ascona (210 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 36 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1979 Opel Ascona will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 520. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1979 Opel Ascona has manual transmission. 1979 Opel Ascona 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 | 1979 Opel Ascona | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 520 | Ascona |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1979 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 2408 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 142 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 210 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.7:1 |
| Top Speed | 202 km/hour | 197 km/hour |
| Acceleration 0-100mph | 12.5 seconds | 7.7 seconds |
| 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 | 1082 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2520 mm |
