1988 BMW 535 vs. 1974 Pontiac Bonneville
To start off, 1988 BMW 535 is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Pontiac Bonneville. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Pontiac Bonneville would be higher. At 7,473 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Pontiac Bonneville is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 535 (211 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1974 Pontiac Bonneville. (197 HP @ 3500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 535 should accelerate faster than 1974 Pontiac Bonneville. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Pontiac Bonneville weights approximately 500 kg more than 1988 BMW 535.
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, 1974 Pontiac Bonneville (468 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 162 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 535. (306 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1974 Pontiac Bonneville will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 535. 1974 Pontiac Bonneville has automatic transmission and 1988 BMW 535 has manual transmission. 1988 BMW 535 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1974 Pontiac Bonneville will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 535 | 1974 Pontiac Bonneville | |
| Make | BMW | Pontiac |
| Model | 535 | Bonneville |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3430 cc | 7473 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 211 HP | 197 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Torque | 306 Nm | 468 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1610 kg | 2110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 5750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 3140 mm |
