1996 BMW 545 vs. 1970 Riley 4
To start off, 1996 BMW 545 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Riley 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Riley 4 would be higher. At 4,398 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 BMW 545 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 545 (282 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 215 more horse power than 1970 Riley 4. (67 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 545 should accelerate faster than 1970 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 545 weights approximately 502 kg more than 1970 Riley 4. 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 545 (440 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 320 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Riley 4. (120 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 545 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 545 | 1970 Riley 4 | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 545 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1970 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4398 cc | 1622 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 67 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 120 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3900 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92.1 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 45 L |
