1996 BMW 520 vs. 1980 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1996 BMW 520 is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,990 cc (6 cylinders), 1996 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 520 (150 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 91 more horse power than 1980 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 520 weights approximately 494 kg more than 1980 Ford Cortina. 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, 1996 BMW 520 (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 98 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 520 | 1980 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1990 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1496 kg | 1002 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 54 L |
