1990 BMW 316 vs. 1979 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1990 BMW 316 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,940 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Ford Fairlane (185 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 85 more horse power than 1990 BMW 316. (100 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 316. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 350 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, 1979 Ford Fairlane (344 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 203 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 316. (141 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 316. 1979 Ford Fairlane 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. 1979 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 316 | 1979 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 316 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1596 cc | 4940 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 185 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 344 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 1430 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2950 mm |
