1997 BMW S3 vs. 1980 Toyota Carina
To start off, 1997 BMW S3 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Toyota Carina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Toyota Carina 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 172 more horse power than 1980 Toyota Carina. (88 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 BMW S3 should accelerate faster than 1980 Toyota Carina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 BMW S3 weights approximately 413 kg more than 1980 Toyota Carina. 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 200 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Toyota Carina. (130 Nm). This means 1997 BMW S3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Toyota Carina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 BMW S3 | 1980 Toyota Carina | |
| Make | BMW | Toyota |
| Model | S3 | Carina |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3201 cc | 1586 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 260 HP | 88 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 330 Nm | 130 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 258 km/hour | 165 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1368 kg | 955 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2510 mm |
