1996 BMW 540 vs. 1970 Ford Escort
To start off, 1996 BMW 540 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Escort would be higher. At 4,397 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 540 (282 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 162 more horse power than 1970 Ford Escort. (120 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 540 weights approximately 1030 kg more than 1970 Ford Escort. 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 540 (440 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 292 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Escort. (148 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 540 | 1970 Ford Escort | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 540 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1970 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4397 cc | 1599 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 120 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 148 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 77.6 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 250 km/hour | 182 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1815 kg | 785 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1570 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2830 mm | 2410 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 41 L |
