1996 BMW 545 vs. 1978 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1996 BMW 545 is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Rekord. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Rekord 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 218 more horse power than 1978 Opel Rekord. (64 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 545 should accelerate faster than 1978 Opel Rekord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 545 weights approximately 355 kg more than 1978 Opel Rekord. 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 314 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Opel Rekord. (126 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 545 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Opel Rekord.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 545 | 1978 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 545 | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4398 cc | 2260 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 64 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 126 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3900 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92.1 mm | 92 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 85 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1295 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2670 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 65 L |
