1997 BMW 850 vs. 2012 Nissan 370Z
To start off, 2012 Nissan 370Z is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1997 BMW 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1997 BMW 850 would be higher. At 5,379 cc (12 cylinders), 1997 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Nissan 370Z (332 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 3 more horse power than 1997 BMW 850. (329 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Nissan 370Z should accelerate faster than 1997 BMW 850. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 BMW 850 weights approximately 376 kg more than 2012 Nissan 370Z.
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, 1997 BMW 850 (490 Nm) has 124 more torque (in Nm) than 2012 Nissan 370Z. (366 Nm). This means 1997 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2012 Nissan 370Z.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 BMW 850 | 2012 Nissan 370Z | |
| Make | BMW | Nissan |
| Model | 850 | 370Z |
| Year Released | 1997 | 2012 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5379 cc | 3700 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 329 HP | 332 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 490 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | 7-speed shiftable automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1945 kg | 1569 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 4247 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1849 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1326 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2550 mm |
