1995 BMW 525 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1995 BMW 525 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 2,497 cc (6 cylinders), 1995 BMW 525 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 BMW 525 (215 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 97 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1995 BMW 525 should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1995 BMW 525 weights approximately 661 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan. 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, 1995 BMW 525 (285 Nm) has 139 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm). This means 1995 BMW 525 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1995 BMW 525 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 525 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1995 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2497 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 285 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1550 kg | 889 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2440 mm |
