1990 BMW 316 vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1990 BMW 316 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Senator. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Senator would be higher. At 1,977 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (115 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1990 BMW 316. (100 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 316. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Senator weights approximately 255 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. Let's talk about torque, 1978 Opel Senator (160 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 316. (141 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 316. 1978 Opel Senator 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 Opel Senator will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 316 | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 316 | Senator |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1596 cc | 1977 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 1335 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 43 L |
