1998 BMW 318 vs. 2009 Lotus Elise
To start off, 2009 Lotus Elise is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1998 BMW 318. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1998 BMW 318 would be higher. Both 1998 BMW 318 and 2009 Lotus Elise are equipped with a 1,796 cc engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Lotus Elise (120 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1998 BMW 318. (115 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2009 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1998 BMW 318. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 BMW 318 weights approximately 428 kg more than 2009 Lotus Elise.
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, 1998 BMW 318 (180 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 12 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 Lotus Elise. (168 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1998 BMW 318 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 Lotus Elise.
Compare all specifications:
1998 BMW 318 | 2009 Lotus Elise | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 318 | Elise |
Year Released | 1998 | 2009 |
Body Type | Sedan | Roadster |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1796 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 115 HP | 120 HP |
Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 180 Nm | 168 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 80 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 89.3 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 11.0:1 |
Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline - Premium |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1310 kg | 882 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 3790 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2310 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 52 L | 32 L |