1996 BMW 325 vs. 1988 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 1996 BMW 325 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Ford Crown Victoria. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Ford Crown Victoria would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1988 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 325 (168 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 20 more horse power than 1988 Ford Crown Victoria. (148 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 325 should accelerate faster than 1988 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 315 kg more than 1996 BMW 325.
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 Ford Crown Victoria (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 121 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 BMW 325. (245 Nm @ 3950 RPM). This means 1988 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 BMW 325. 1988 Ford Crown Victoria has automatic transmission and 1996 BMW 325 has manual transmission. 1996 BMW 325 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 325 | 1988 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 325 | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1988 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2492 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 168 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3950 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1385 kg | 1700 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1980 mm |
