1990 BMW 518 vs. 1978 Ford Escort
To start off, 1990 BMW 518 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,766 cc (4 cylinders), 1990 BMW 518 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 BMW 518 (113 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 68 more horse power than 1978 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1990 BMW 518 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 BMW 518 weights approximately 285 kg more than 1978 Ford Escort. 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, 1990 BMW 518 (161 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 101 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1990 BMW 518 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 518 | 1978 Ford Escort | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 518 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 939 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 45 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 161 Nm | 60 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 875 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2410 mm |
