2003 BMW 530 vs. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 2003 BMW 530 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis would be higher. At 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 BMW 530 (227 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 88 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (139 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 BMW 530 should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 138 kg more than 2003 BMW 530.
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 Mercury Grand Marquis (353 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 BMW 530. (300 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 BMW 530.
Compare all specifications:
| 2003 BMW 530 | 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 530 | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 2003 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2979 cc | 5766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 227 HP | 139 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 300 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1572 kg | 1710 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4850 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2890 mm | 2910 mm |
