1996 BMW 540 vs. 1988 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1996 BMW 540 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,398 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 540 (282 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 144 more horse power than 1988 Ford Fairlane. (138 HP @ 3750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1988 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 540 weights approximately 105 kg more than 1988 Ford Fairlane. 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 136 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Ford Fairlane. (304 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Ford Fairlane.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 540 | 1988 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 540 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4398 cc | 4089 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1735 kg | 1630 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2950 mm |
