1988 BMW 525 vs. 1981 Ford Capri
To start off, 1988 BMW 525 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Capri would be higher. At 2,790 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Ford Capri is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 525 (165 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1981 Ford Capri. (160 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 525 should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 525 weights approximately 415 kg more than 1981 Ford Capri. 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 525 (239 Nm @ 4300 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Capri. (220 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 525 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Capri. 1988 BMW 525 has automatic transmission and 1981 Ford Capri has manual transmission. 1981 Ford Capri will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 BMW 525 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 525 | 1981 Ford Capri | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 525 | Capri |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2441 cc | 2790 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 165 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 239 Nm | 220 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 93 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Top Speed | 203 km/hour | 204 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1605 kg | 1190 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4360 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2450 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 59 L |
