1999 BMW 323 vs. 1978 Ford Taunus
To start off, 1999 BMW 323 is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 2,494 cc (6 cylinders), 1999 BMW 323 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 BMW 323 (170 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 117 more horse power than 1978 Ford Taunus. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1999 BMW 323 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1999 BMW 323 weights approximately 402 kg more than 1978 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, 1999 BMW 323 (245 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 154 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Taunus. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1999 BMW 323 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Taunus. 1999 BMW 323 has automatic transmission and 1978 Ford Taunus has manual transmission. 1978 Ford Taunus will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1999 BMW 323 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1999 BMW 323 | 1978 Ford Taunus | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 323 | Taunus |
| Year Released | 1999 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2494 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 170 HP | 53 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1457 kg | 1055 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2500 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 94 L |
