1989 BMW 518 vs. 1978 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1989 BMW 518 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Lancia Beta. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Lancia Beta would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Lancia Beta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Lancia Beta (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1989 BMW 518. (114 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1989 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 518 weights approximately 92 kg more than 1978 Lancia Beta.
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, both vehicles can yield 165 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 BMW 518 | 1978 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | BMW | Lancia |
| Model | 518 | Beta |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 114 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 1068 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2310 mm |
