1989 BMW 850 vs. 2008 Panoz Esperante
To start off, 2008 Panoz Esperante is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1989 BMW 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1989 BMW 850 would be higher. At 4,988 cc (12 cylinders), 1989 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2008 Panoz Esperante (305 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1989 BMW 850. (296 HP @ 5200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2008 Panoz Esperante should accelerate faster than 1989 BMW 850. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 850 weights approximately 257 kg more than 2008 Panoz Esperante.
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 16 more torque (in Nm) than 2008 Panoz Esperante. (434 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2008 Panoz Esperante.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 BMW 850 | 2008 Panoz Esperante | |
| Make | BMW | Panoz |
| Model | 850 | Esperante |
| Year Released | 1989 | 2008 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4988 cc | 4589 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 296 HP | 305 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 450 Nm | 434 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4100 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84.1 mm | 90.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 9.8:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1792 kg | 1535 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2700 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 59 L |
