1989 BMW 316 vs. 1976 Bristol 603
To start off, 1989 BMW 316 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Bristol 603. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Bristol 603 would be higher. At 5,210 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Bristol 603 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Bristol 603 (145 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1989 BMW 316. (100 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Bristol 603 should accelerate faster than 1989 BMW 316. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Bristol 603 weights approximately 705 kg more than 1989 BMW 316. 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, 1976 Bristol 603 (333 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 192 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 BMW 316. (141 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1976 Bristol 603 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 BMW 316. 1976 Bristol 603 has automatic transmission and 1989 BMW 316 has manual transmission. 1989 BMW 316 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Bristol 603 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 BMW 316 | 1976 Bristol 603 | |
| Make | BMW | Bristol |
| Model | 316 | 603 |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1596 cc | 5210 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 333 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 1785 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 81 L |
