1989 BMW 518 vs. 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante
To start off, 1989 BMW 518 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante would be higher. At 5,341 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante (317 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 203 more horse power than 1989 BMW 518. (114 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante should accelerate faster than 1989 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante weights approximately 654 kg more than 1989 BMW 518. 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, 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante (435 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 270 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 BMW 518. (165 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 BMW 518. 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante has automatic transmission and 1989 BMW 518 has manual transmission. 1989 BMW 518 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1989 BMW 518 | 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante | |
Make | BMW | Aston Martin |
Model | 518 | V8 Volante |
Year Released | 1989 | 1981 |
Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1766 cc | 5341 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 114 HP | 317 HP |
Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Torque | 165 Nm | 435 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 100 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 85 mm |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 1814 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4670 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1890 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1330 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2620 mm |