1988 BMW 520 vs. 1979 Volvo 343
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Volvo 343. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Volvo 343 would be higher. At 1,989 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 520 (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 343. (70 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 343. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 580 kg more than 1979 Volvo 343. 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, 1988 BMW 520 (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 66 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 343. (108 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 343.
Compare all specifications:
1988 BMW 520 | 1979 Volvo 343 | |
Make | BMW | Volvo |
Model | 520 | 343 |
Year Released | 1988 | 1979 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1989 cc | 1397 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 129 HP | 70 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 174 Nm | 108 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 990 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4210 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1670 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1400 mm |