1988 BMW 524 vs. 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre
To start off, 1988 BMW 524 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre would be higher. At 3,532 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre (150 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1988 BMW 524. (113 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 524. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre weights approximately 280 kg more than 1988 BMW 524. 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 Rover 3.5 Litre (276 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 66 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 524. (210 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 524. 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre has automatic transmission and 1988 BMW 524 has manual transmission. 1988 BMW 524 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 524 | 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre | |
| Make | BMW | Rover |
| Model | 524 | 3.5 Litre |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2493 cc | 3532 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 150 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 210 Nm | 276 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1355 kg | 1635 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1550 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2820 mm |
