1988 BMW 520 vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 Lotus Esprit is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 BMW 520 would be higher. At 2,172 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (264 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 135 more horse power than 1988 BMW 520. (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 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 241 kg more than 1989 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, 1989 Lotus Esprit (353 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 179 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1989 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 1989 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1989 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 | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 520 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 264 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3900 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 202 km/hour | 256 km/hour |
| 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 | 1329 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2460 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 31 L |
