1996 BMW 523 vs. 1973 Rover P5B

To start off, 1996 BMW 523 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Rover P5B. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Rover P5B would be higher. At 3,526 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Rover P5B is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 523 (170 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1973 Rover P5B. (158 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 523 should accelerate faster than 1973 Rover P5B. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Rover P5B weights approximately 45 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. Let's talk about torque, 1973 Rover P5B (295 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 50 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 BMW 523. (245 Nm @ 3950 RPM). This means 1973 Rover P5B will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 BMW 523. 1973 Rover P5B 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. 1973 Rover P5B will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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