1988 BMW 524 vs. 1978 Toyota Starlet
To start off, 1988 BMW 524 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Toyota Starlet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Toyota Starlet would be higher. At 2,493 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 BMW 524 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 524 (113 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 58 more horse power than 1978 Toyota Starlet. (55 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 524 should accelerate faster than 1978 Toyota Starlet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 524 weights approximately 580 kg more than 1978 Toyota Starlet. 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 524 (210 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 126 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Toyota Starlet. (84 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 524 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Toyota Starlet.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 524 | 1978 Toyota Starlet | |
| Make | BMW | Toyota |
| Model | 524 | Starlet |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2493 cc | 1166 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 55 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 210 Nm | 84 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 22.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1355 kg | 775 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 3690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1530 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2310 mm |
