1996 BMW 520 vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1996 BMW 520 is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Senator. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Senator would be higher. At 2,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (177 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1996 BMW 520. (150 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1996 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 520 weights approximately 11 kg more than 1978 Opel Senator.
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 Opel Senator (248 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 58 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 BMW 520. (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 520 | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 520 | Senator |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1990 cc | 2969 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 177 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 220 km/hour | 209 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1496 kg | 1485 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2670 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 70 L |
