1997 BMW 850 vs. 2011 Ford E-350
To start off, 2011 Ford E-350 is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1997 BMW 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1997 BMW 850 would be higher. At 5,400 cc (8 cylinders), 2011 Ford E-350 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 BMW 850 (329 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 74 more horse power than 2011 Ford E-350. (255 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 2011 Ford E-350. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2011 Ford E-350 weights approximately 596 kg more than 1997 BMW 850.
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 16 more torque (in Nm) than 2011 Ford E-350. (474 Nm). This means 1997 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2011 Ford E-350.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 BMW 850 | 2011 Ford E-350 | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 850 | E-350 |
| Year Released | 1997 | 2011 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Van |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5379 cc | 5400 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 329 HP | 255 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 490 Nm | 474 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1945 kg | 2541 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 5504 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 2017 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 2126 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 3505 mm |
