1996 BMW 840 vs. 1981 Lincoln Continental
To start off, 1996 BMW 840 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lincoln Continental. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lincoln Continental would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Lincoln Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 840 (282 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 153 more horse power than 1981 Lincoln Continental. (129 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 840 should accelerate faster than 1981 Lincoln Continental. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Lincoln Continental weights approximately 115 kg more than 1996 BMW 840.
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 840 (400 Nm @ 5100 RPM) has 87 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lincoln Continental. (313 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 840 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lincoln Continental.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 840 | 1981 Lincoln Continental | |
| Make | BMW | Lincoln |
| Model | 840 | Continental |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3982 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 313 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5100 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 101.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1740 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 5570 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1990 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2990 mm |
