1984 BMW 628 vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1984 BMW 628 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,788 cc (6 cylinders), 1984 BMW 628 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 BMW 628 (181 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (159 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1984 BMW 628 should accelerate faster than 1981 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1984 BMW 628 weights approximately 403 kg more than 1981 Lotus Esprit. 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, 1984 BMW 628 (240 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1984 BMW 628 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1984 BMW 628 | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 628 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1984 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2788 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 181 HP | 159 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 240 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.3:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1470 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 31 L |
