1988 BMW 520 vs. 1981 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Skyline. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Skyline 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 @ 6000 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (93 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 520 kg more than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 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 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (149 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1981 Nissan Skyline has manual transmission. 1981 Nissan Skyline 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 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | BMW | Nissan |
| Model | 520 | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 1809 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 149 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2620 mm |
