2001 BMW 318 vs. 1988 Porsche 944
To start off, 2001 BMW 318 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Porsche 944. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Porsche 944 would be higher. At 2,479 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Porsche 944 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Porsche 944 (214 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 101 more horse power than 2001 BMW 318. (113 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Porsche 944 should accelerate faster than 2001 BMW 318. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2001 BMW 318 weights approximately 75 kg more than 1988 Porsche 944.
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, 1988 Porsche 944 (351 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 184 more torque (in Nm) than 2001 BMW 318. (167 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1988 Porsche 944 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2001 BMW 318.
Compare all specifications:
| 2001 BMW 318 | 1988 Porsche 944 | |
| Make | BMW | Porsche |
| Model | 318 | 944 |
| Year Released | 2001 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 2479 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 214 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 167 Nm | 351 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1300 kg | 1225 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2740 mm | 2390 mm |
