1998 BMW 316 vs. 1981 Ford Taunus
To start off, 1998 BMW 316 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 1,895 cc (4 cylinders), 1998 BMW 316 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 BMW 316 (103 HP) has 46 more horse power than 1981 Ford Taunus. (57 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1998 BMW 316 should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 BMW 316 weights approximately 340 kg more than 1981 Ford Taunus. 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 73 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Taunus. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1998 BMW 316 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Taunus.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 BMW 316 | 1981 Ford Taunus | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 316 | Taunus |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1895 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 103 HP | 57 HP |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 85 mm | 79 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 83.5 mm | 66 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1360 kg | 1020 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2580 mm |
