1990 BMW 316 vs. 1980 Lotus Eclat
To start off, 1990 BMW 316 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Lotus Eclat. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Lotus Eclat would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Eclat is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Eclat (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 60 more horse power than 1990 BMW 316. (100 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Eclat should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 316. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Eclat weights approximately 24 kg more than 1990 BMW 316. 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, 1980 Lotus Eclat (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 76 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 316. (141 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Eclat will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 316.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 316 | 1980 Lotus Eclat | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 316 | Eclat |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1980 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1596 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 217 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 1104 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 4460 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 67 L |
