2004 BMW 320 vs. 1988 Porsche 944
To start off, 2004 BMW 320 is newer by 16 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 2,680 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Porsche 944 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 BMW 320 (174 HP @ 6100 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1988 Porsche 944. (162 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 BMW 320 should accelerate faster 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 (225 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 14 more torque (in Nm) than 2004 BMW 320. (211 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1988 Porsche 944 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2004 BMW 320. 1988 Porsche 944 has automatic transmission and 2004 BMW 320 has manual transmission. 2004 BMW 320 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Porsche 944 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 BMW 320 | 1988 Porsche 944 | |
| Make | BMW | Porsche |
| Model | 320 | 944 |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2171 cc | 2680 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 174 HP | 162 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6100 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 211 Nm | 225 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 104 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72 mm | 78.9 mm |
| Top Speed | 222 km/hour | 219 km/hour |
| Acceleration 0-100mph | 9.1 seconds | 9.4 seconds |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4490 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2390 mm |
