1998 BMW 318 vs. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 1998 BMW 318 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Crown Victoria would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 BMW 318 (140 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. (129 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 BMW 318 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 369 kg more than 1998 BMW 318.
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, 1978 Ford Crown Victoria (302 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 122 more torque (in Nm) than 1998 BMW 318. (180 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1998 BMW 318. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria has automatic transmission and 1998 BMW 318 has manual transmission. 1998 BMW 318 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 BMW 318 | 1978 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 318 | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1895 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 180 Nm | 302 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 85 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 83.5 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1275 kg | 1644 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4220 mm | 5320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2910 mm |
