1995 BMW 318 vs. 1984 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1995 BMW 318 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1984 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1984 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1984 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1995 BMW 318. (140 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1995 BMW 318. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1995 BMW 318 weights approximately 308 kg more than 1984 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1984 Lotus Esprit (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1995 BMW 318. (200 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1984 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1995 BMW 318.
Compare all specifications:
| 1995 BMW 318 | 1984 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 318 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1995 | 1984 |
| Body Type | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1995 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 200 Nm | 217 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Acceleration 0-100mph | 9.3 seconds | 7 seconds |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1375 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 7.4 L/100km | 9.3 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 31 L |
