1989 BMW 850 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 4,988 cc (12 cylinders), 1989 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 BMW 850 (296 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 178 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 850 weights approximately 366 kg more than 1969 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, 1989 BMW 850 (450 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 304 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan. 1989 BMW 850 has automatic transmission and 1969 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1969 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 BMW 850 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 BMW 850 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 850 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4988 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 296 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 450 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4100 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 246 km/hour | 190 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1255 kg | 889 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 59 L |
