2005 BMW 520 vs. 1978 Ford Cortina
To start off, 2005 BMW 520 is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,171 cc (6 cylinders), 2005 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 BMW 520 (168 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 82 more horse power than 1978 Ford Cortina. (86 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2005 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 BMW 520 weights approximately 450 kg more than 1978 Ford Cortina. 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, 2005 BMW 520 (211 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 70 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Cortina. (141 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2005 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Cortina. 1978 Ford Cortina has automatic transmission and 2005 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 2005 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 BMW 520 | 1978 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 2005 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2171 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 168 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 211 Nm | 141 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1560 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4850 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2580 mm |
