1992 BMW 540 vs. 1981 Ford Taunus
To start off, 1992 BMW 540 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 3,980 cc (8 cylinders), 1992 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1992 BMW 540 (282 HP) has 225 more horse power than 1981 Ford Taunus. (57 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1992 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1992 BMW 540 weights approximately 630 kg more than 1981 Ford Taunus. 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 540 (400 Nm @ 5100 RPM) has 308 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Taunus. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1992 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Taunus.
Compare all specifications:
| 1992 BMW 540 | 1981 Ford Taunus | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 540 | Taunus |
| Year Released | 1992 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3980 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 57 HP |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5100 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 79 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 66 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1020 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2580 mm |
