2006 BMW 530 vs. 1978 Volvo 343
To start off, 2006 BMW 530 is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Volvo 343. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Volvo 343 would be higher. At 2,979 cc, 2006 BMW 530 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Volvo 343 (70 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 2006 BMW 530. (23 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Volvo 343 should accelerate faster than 2006 BMW 530. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2006 BMW 530 weights approximately 640 kg more than 1978 Volvo 343.
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, 2006 BMW 530 (300 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 191 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Volvo 343. (109 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2006 BMW 530 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Volvo 343.
Compare all specifications:
| 2006 BMW 530 | 1978 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | BMW | Volvo |
| Model | 530 | 343 |
| Year Released | 2006 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2979 cc | 1397 cc |
| Horse Power | 23 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 300 Nm | 109 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1630 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4570 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1680 mm | 1400 mm |
