1988 BMW 525 vs. 1973 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1988 BMW 525 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Ford Fairlane (212 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 1988 BMW 525. (165 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 525. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 10 kg more than 1988 BMW 525. 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 Ford Fairlane (427 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 188 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 525. (239 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1973 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 525.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 525 | 1973 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 525 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2441 cc | 5766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 165 HP | 212 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 239 Nm | 427 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 101.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1605 kg | 1615 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 5060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2950 mm |
