1988 BMW 520 vs. 1981 Ford Capri
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Capri would be higher. At 2,792 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Ford Capri is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ford Capri (158 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1988 BMW 520. (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ford Capri should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 340 kg more than 1981 Ford Capri.
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 Ford Capri (221 Nm @ 4300 RPM) has 47 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1981 Ford Capri will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 520. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1981 Ford Capri has manual transmission. 1981 Ford Capri 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 | 1981 Ford Capri | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Capri |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 2792 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 93.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 1230 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2570 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 59 L |
