2000 BMW 318 vs. 1996 Caterham 7
To start off, 2000 BMW 318 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1996 Caterham 7. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1996 Caterham 7 would be higher. At 1,894 cc (4 cylinders), 2000 BMW 318 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 20 more horse power than 2000 BMW 318. (118 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 2000 BMW 318. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2000 BMW 318 weights approximately 882 kg more than 1996 Caterham 7.
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, 2000 BMW 318 (180 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 24 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Caterham 7. (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 2000 BMW 318 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
| 2000 BMW 318 | 1996 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | BMW | Caterham |
| Model | 318 | 7 |
| Year Released | 2000 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1894 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 180 Nm | 156 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3900 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.7:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 206 km/hour | 203 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1360 kg | 478 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4490 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2240 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 36 L |
