1996 BMW 523 vs. 1950 Mercury Roadster
To start off, 1996 BMW 523 is newer by 46 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1950 Mercury Roadster. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1950 Mercury Roadster would be higher. At 3,990 cc (8 cylinders), 1950 Mercury Roadster is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 523 (170 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 62 more horse power than 1950 Mercury Roadster. (108 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 523 should accelerate faster than 1950 Mercury Roadster. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1950 Mercury Roadster weights approximately 5 kg more than 1996 BMW 523.
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. 1950 Mercury Roadster has automatic transmission and 1996 BMW 523 has manual transmission. 1996 BMW 523 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1950 Mercury Roadster will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 523 | 1950 Mercury Roadster | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 523 | Roadster |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1950 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2494 cc | 3990 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 170 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1545 kg | 1550 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 5260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2960 mm |
