1988 BMW 520 vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1988 BMW 520. (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 450 kg more than 1980 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (222 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 48 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 520. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1980 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1980 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 BMW 520 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1988 BMW 520 | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 520 | Esprit |
Year Released | 1988 | 1980 |
Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 1989 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 129 HP | 158 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 174 Nm | 222 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.3 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 76.2 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 1120 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4200 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1870 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2450 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 67 L |