1993 BMW 518 vs. 1996 Caterham 7
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1993 BMW 518. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1993 BMW 518 would be higher. At 1,766 cc (4 cylinders), 1993 BMW 518 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 25 more horse power than 1993 BMW 518. (113 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1993 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1993 BMW 518 weights approximately 682 kg more than 1996 Caterham 7.
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, 1993 BMW 518 (165 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Caterham 7. (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1993 BMW 518 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
| 1993 BMW 518 | 1996 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | BMW | Caterham |
| Model | 518 | 7 |
| Year Released | 1993 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 156 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 478 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2240 mm |
