2007 BMW 650 vs. 1978 Pontiac Firebird

To start off, 2007 BMW 650 is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2007 BMW 650 (360 HP @ 6300 RPM) has 215 more horse power than 1978 Pontiac Firebird. (145 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2007 BMW 650 should accelerate faster than 1978 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2007 BMW 650 weights approximately 44 kg more than 1978 Pontiac Firebird. 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, 2007 BMW 650 (488 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 164 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Pontiac Firebird. (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 2007 BMW 650 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Pontiac Firebird.

Compare all specifications:

2007 BMW 650 1978 Pontiac Firebird
Make BMW Pontiac
Model 650 Firebird
Year Released 2007 1978
Body Type Coupe Coupe
Engine Position Front Front
Engine Size 4799 cc 5012 cc
Engine Cylinders 8 cylinders 8 cylinders
Engine Type V V
Valves per Cylinder 4 valves 2 valves
Horse Power 360 HP 145 HP
Engine RPM 6300 RPM 3800 RPM
Torque 488 Nm 324 Nm
Torque RPM 3400 RPM 2400 RPM
Engine Bore Size 93 mm 95 mm
Engine Stroke Size 88.3 mm 88.4 mm
Engine Compression Ratio 11.0:1 8.6:1
Fuel Type Gasoline - Premium Gasoline
Top Speed 250 km/hour 160 km/hour
Drive Type Rear Rear
Number of Seats 4 seats 4 seats
Number of Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 1640 kg 1596 kg
Vehicle Length 4830 mm 4880 mm
Vehicle Width 1380 mm 1870 mm
Vehicle Height 1860 mm 1290 mm
Wheelbase Size 2790 mm 2750 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 70 L 76 L