1988 BMW 520 vs. 1981 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 3,790 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 520 (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (110 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 35 kg more than 1988 BMW 520.
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 Pontiac Firebird (256 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 82 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
1988 BMW 520 | 1981 Pontiac Firebird | |
Make | BMW | Pontiac |
Model | 520 | Firebird |
Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1989 cc | 3790 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 129 HP | 110 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
Torque | 174 Nm | 256 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 96.5 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 86.4 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.0:1 |
Top Speed | 202 km/hour | 149 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 1605 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 5040 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1260 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2750 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 79 L |