1982 BMW 318 vs. 1985 Lotus Excel
To start off, 1985 Lotus Excel is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1982 BMW 318. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1982 BMW 318 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Lotus Excel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Excel (181 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 92 more horse power than 1982 BMW 318. (89 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1982 BMW 318. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Lotus Excel weights approximately 151 kg more than 1982 BMW 318. 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, 1985 Lotus Excel (232 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 92 more torque (in Nm) than 1982 BMW 318. (140 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1982 BMW 318.
Compare all specifications:
| 1982 BMW 318 | 1985 Lotus Excel | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 318 | Excel |
| Year Released | 1982 | 1985 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1765 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 181 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 232 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 10.9:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1020 kg | 1171 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1020 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 66 L |
