1995 BMW 318 vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1995 BMW 318 is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 1995 BMW 318 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1995 BMW 318. (114 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1995 BMW 318. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1995 BMW 318 weights approximately 575 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan.
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, 1995 BMW 318 (168 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1995 BMW 318 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1995 BMW 318 | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 318 | Elan |
Year Released | 1995 | 1971 |
Body Type | Convertible | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 114 HP | 126 HP |
Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 168 Nm | 153 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3900 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1445 kg | 870 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 4270 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1620 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 59 L |