1996 BMW 523 vs. 1981 Nissan Leopard
To start off, 1996 BMW 523 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Leopard. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Leopard would be higher. At 2,494 cc (6 cylinders), 1996 BMW 523 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 523 (170 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 55 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Leopard. (115 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 523 should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Leopard. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 523 weights approximately 351 kg more than 1981 Nissan Leopard. 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 523 (245 Nm @ 3950 RPM) has 75 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Leopard. (170 Nm @ 4400 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 523 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Leopard. 1981 Nissan Leopard 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. 1981 Nissan Leopard will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 523 | 1981 Nissan Leopard | |
| Make | BMW | Nissan |
| Model | 523 | Leopard |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2494 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 170 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 170 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3950 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1545 kg | 1194 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2630 mm |
