1987 BMW 730 vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1987 BMW 730 is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 2,986 cc (6 cylinders), 1987 BMW 730 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 BMW 730 (181 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 55 more horse power than 1971 Lotus Elan. (126 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1987 BMW 730 should accelerate faster than 1971 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 BMW 730 weights approximately 732 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan. 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, 1987 BMW 730 (260 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 107 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1987 BMW 730 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1987 BMW 730 | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 730 | Elan |
Year Released | 1987 | 1971 |
Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2986 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 181 HP | 126 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 260 Nm | 153 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 72.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 10.3:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1602 kg | 870 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4270 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1620 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 59 L |