2001 Bentley Continental vs. 1981 BMW 520
To start off, 2001 Bentley Continental is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 BMW 520 would be higher. At 6,750 cc (8 cylinders), 2001 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 Bentley Continental (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 298 more horse power than 1981 BMW 520. (123 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2001 Bentley Continental should accelerate faster than 1981 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2001 Bentley Continental weights approximately 1234 kg more than 1981 BMW 520. 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, 2001 Bentley Continental (875 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 705 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 520. (170 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 2001 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 520. 2001 Bentley Continental has automatic transmission and 1981 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 1981 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2001 Bentley Continental will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
2001 Bentley Continental | 1981 BMW 520 | |
Make | Bentley | BMW |
Model | Continental | 520 |
Year Released | 2001 | 1981 |
Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 6750 cc | 1991 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Horse Power | 421 HP | 123 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
Torque | 875 Nm | 170 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 104.2 mm | 80 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 99.1 mm | 66 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 2454 kg | 1220 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5250 mm | 4630 mm |
Vehicle Width | 2060 mm | 1710 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1430 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2970 mm | 2630 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 100 L | 70 L |