1988 BMW 525 vs. 1989 Ford RS 200
To start off, 1989 Ford RS 200 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 BMW 525. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 BMW 525 would be higher. At 2,441 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 BMW 525 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Ford RS 200 (247 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 82 more horse power than 1988 BMW 525. (165 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Ford RS 200 should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 525. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 525 weights approximately 423 kg more than 1989 Ford RS 200.
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, 1989 Ford RS 200 (292 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 525. (239 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1989 Ford RS 200 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 525. 1988 BMW 525 has automatic transmission and 1989 Ford RS 200 has manual transmission. 1989 Ford RS 200 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 | 1989 Ford RS 200 | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 525 | RS 200 |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2441 cc | 1804 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 165 HP | 247 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 239 Nm | 292 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 86.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 77.7 mm |
| Top Speed | 203 km/hour | 229 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1605 kg | 1182 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2410 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 116 L |
