1990 BMW 518 vs. 1979 Ford LTD
To start off, 1990 BMW 518 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Ford LTD. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ford LTD would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford LTD is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Ford LTD (129 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 16 more horse power than 1990 BMW 518. (113 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ford LTD should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford LTD weights approximately 400 kg more than 1990 BMW 518. 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 LTD (302 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 141 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 518. (161 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1979 Ford LTD will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 518. 1979 Ford LTD has automatic transmission and 1990 BMW 518 has manual transmission. 1990 BMW 518 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Ford LTD will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 518 | 1979 Ford LTD | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 518 | LTD |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1979 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 161 Nm | 302 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 101.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 1560 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 5320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 52 L | 72 L |
