1990 BMW 316 vs. 1978 Fiat 131
To start off, 1990 BMW 316 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Fiat 131. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Fiat 131 would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 BMW 316 (100 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 131. (59 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1990 BMW 316 should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 100 kg more than 1990 BMW 316.
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, 1990 BMW 316 (141 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 131. (113 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1990 BMW 316 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 131. 1978 Fiat 131 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. 1978 Fiat 131 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 316 | 1978 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | BMW | Fiat |
| Model | 316 | 131 |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1596 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 113 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 22.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 1180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2500 mm |
