1989 BMW 850 vs. 1965 Riley 4
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1965 Riley 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1965 Riley 4 would be higher. At 4,988 cc (12 cylinders), 1989 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 BMW 850 (296 HP) has 229 more horse power than 1965 Riley 4. (67 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1965 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 850 weights approximately 107 kg more than 1965 Riley 4. 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, 1989 BMW 850 (450 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 329 more torque (in Nm) than 1965 Riley 4. (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1965 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 BMW 850 | 1965 Riley 4 | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 850 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1965 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4988 cc | 1620 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 296 HP | 67 HP |
| Torque | 450 Nm | 121 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4100 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1255 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 45 L |
