1989 BMW 850 vs. 1981 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 BMW 850 (296 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 151 more horse power than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (145 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 850 weights approximately 250 kg more than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. 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 126 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Pontiac Firebird.
Compare all specifications:
1989 BMW 850 | 1981 Pontiac Firebird | |
Make | BMW | Pontiac |
Model | 850 | Firebird |
Year Released | 1989 | 1981 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4988 cc | 5012 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | V |
Horse Power | 296 HP | 145 HP |
Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 3800 RPM |
Torque | 450 Nm | 324 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4100 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84.1 mm | 95 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 88.4 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 8.6:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1792 kg | 1542 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 5040 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1260 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2750 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 79 L |