2008 BMW 540 vs. 1990 Volvo 960
To start off, 2008 BMW 540 is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1990 Volvo 960. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1990 Volvo 960 would be higher. At 4,398 cc, 2008 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 BMW 540 weights approximately 179 kg more than 1990 Volvo 960.
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, 2008 BMW 540 (440 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 173 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Volvo 960. (267 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 2008 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Volvo 960. 2008 BMW 540 has automatic transmission and 1990 Volvo 960 has manual transmission. 1990 Volvo 960 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2008 BMW 540 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2008 BMW 540 | 1990 Volvo 960 | |
| Make | BMW | Volvo |
| Model | 540 | 960 |
| Year Released | 2008 | 1990 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4398 cc | 2922 cc |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 0 HP | 204 HP |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 267 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92 mm | 83 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 10.7:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 250 km/hour | 206 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1735 kg | 1556 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 4880 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2650 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 12.5 L/100km | 10.1 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 80 L |
