1989 BMW 850 vs. 1981 Volvo 343
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Volvo 343. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Volvo 343 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 @ 5200 RPM) has 226 more horse power than 1981 Volvo 343. (70 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1981 Volvo 343. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 850 weights approximately 802 kg more than 1981 Volvo 343. 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 342 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Volvo 343. (108 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Volvo 343. 1981 Volvo 343 has automatic transmission and 1989 BMW 850 has manual transmission. 1989 BMW 850 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Volvo 343 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1989 BMW 850 | 1981 Volvo 343 | |
Make | BMW | Volvo |
Model | 850 | 343 |
Year Released | 1989 | 1981 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4988 cc | 1397 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Horse Power | 296 HP | 70 HP |
Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 450 Nm | 108 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4100 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1792 kg | 990 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 4210 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1670 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1400 mm |