1990 BMW 520 vs. 1978 Buick Electra
To start off, 1990 BMW 520 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Buick Electra. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Buick Electra would be higher. At 5,730 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Buick Electra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Buick Electra (153 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 8 more horse power than 1990 BMW 520. (145 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Buick Electra should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Buick Electra weights approximately 243 kg more than 1990 BMW 520. 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 Buick Electra (381 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 195 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 520. (186 Nm @ 4700 RPM). This means 1978 Buick Electra will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 520. 1978 Buick Electra has automatic transmission and 1990 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 1990 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Buick Electra will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 520 | 1978 Buick Electra | |
| Make | BMW | Buick |
| Model | 520 | Electra |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 5730 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 153 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 186 Nm | 381 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4700 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 96.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 97.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1542 kg | 1785 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 5650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1970 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 3030 mm |
