1997 BMW 850 vs. 1978 Ferrari 308
To start off, 1997 BMW 850 is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ferrari 308. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ferrari 308 would be higher. At 5,379 cc (12 cylinders), 1997 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 BMW 850 (329 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 89 more horse power than 1978 Ferrari 308. (240 HP @ 7000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ferrari 308. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 BMW 850 weights approximately 665 kg more than 1978 Ferrari 308. 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, 1997 BMW 850 (490 Nm) has 225 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ferrari 308. (265 Nm). This means 1997 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ferrari 308. 1997 BMW 850 has automatic transmission and 1978 Ferrari 308 has manual transmission. 1978 Ferrari 308 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1997 BMW 850 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 BMW 850 | 1978 Ferrari 308 | |
| Make | BMW | Ferrari |
| Model | 850 | 308 |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5379 cc | 2927 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 329 HP | 240 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 490 Nm | 265 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 85.1 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79 mm | 71 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1945 kg | 1280 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 4240 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1130 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2350 mm |
