1997 BMW S3 vs. 1978 Ford Capri
To start off, 1997 BMW S3 is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Capri would be higher. At 3,201 cc (6 cylinders), 1997 BMW S3 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 BMW S3 (260 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 85 more horse power than 1978 Ford Capri. (175 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 BMW S3 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 BMW S3 weights approximately 198 kg more than 1978 Ford Capri. 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 S3 (330 Nm) has 67 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Capri. (263 Nm). This means 1997 BMW S3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 BMW S3 | 1978 Ford Capri | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | S3 | Capri |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3201 cc | 2994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 260 HP | 175 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 330 Nm | 263 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 | 9.1:1 |
| Top Speed | 258 km/hour | 204 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1368 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2570 mm |
