1988 BMW 530 vs. 1978 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1988 BMW 530 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Rekord. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Rekord would be higher. At 2,986 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 BMW 530 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 530 (188 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 124 more horse power than 1978 Opel Rekord. (64 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 530 should accelerate faster than 1978 Opel Rekord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 530 weights approximately 298 kg more than 1978 Opel Rekord. 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 530 (261 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 135 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Opel Rekord. (126 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 530 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Opel Rekord.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 530 | 1978 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 530 | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 2260 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 188 HP | 64 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 261 Nm | 126 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 92 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 85 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1593 kg | 1295 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2670 mm |
