1998 BMW 316 vs. 1978 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1998 BMW 316 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 BMW 316 (103 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 17 more horse power than 1978 Ford Cortina. (86 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 BMW 316 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 BMW 316 weights approximately 288 kg more than 1978 Ford Cortina. 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, 1998 BMW 316 (165 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 24 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Cortina. (141 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1998 BMW 316 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Cortina. 1998 BMW 316 has automatic transmission and 1978 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1978 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1998 BMW 316 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 BMW 316 | 1978 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 316 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1895 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 103 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 141 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1398 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2580 mm |
