1992 BMW 538 vs. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 1992 BMW 538 is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Crown Victoria would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1992 BMW 538 (341 HP @ 6900 RPM) has 212 more horse power than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. (129 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1992 BMW 538 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1992 BMW 538 weights approximately 186 kg more than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. 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, 1992 BMW 538 (400 Nm @ 4750 RPM) has 98 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. (302 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1992 BMW 538 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria.
Compare all specifications:
| 1992 BMW 538 | 1978 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 538 | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 1992 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3795 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 341 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6900 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 302 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4750 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 94.6 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1830 kg | 1644 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 5320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1390 mm |
