1990 BMW 316 vs. 1949 Mercury Roadster

To start off, 1990 BMW 316 is newer by 41 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Mercury Roadster. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Mercury Roadster would be higher. At 3,990 cc (8 cylinders), 1949 Mercury Roadster is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1949 Mercury Roadster (108 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 8 more horse power than 1990 BMW 316. (100 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1949 Mercury Roadster should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 316. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Mercury Roadster weights approximately 470 kg more than 1990 BMW 316. 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. 1949 Mercury Roadster has automatic transmission and 1990 BMW 316 has manual transmission. 1990 BMW 316 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1949 Mercury Roadster will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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