1990 BMW 518 vs. 1988 Porsche 944
To start off, 1990 BMW 518 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Porsche 944. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Porsche 944 would be higher. At 2,479 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Porsche 944 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Porsche 944 (160 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 1990 BMW 518. (113 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Porsche 944 should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 BMW 518 weights approximately 94 kg more than 1988 Porsche 944.
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, 1988 Porsche 944 (205 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 44 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 518. (161 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1988 Porsche 944 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 518.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 518 | 1988 Porsche 944 | |
| Make | BMW | Porsche |
| Model | 518 | 944 |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1794 cc | 2479 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 161 Nm | 205 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 100 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 78.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 10.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1360 kg | 1266 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2410 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 66 L |
