2000 Caterham 7 vs. 2012 BMW 520
To start off, 2012 BMW 520 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2000 Caterham 7. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2000 Caterham 7 would be higher. At 1,997 cc (4 cylinders), 2012 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 BMW 520 (182 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 2000 Caterham 7. (170 HP @ 10750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 2000 Caterham 7. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2012 BMW 520 weights approximately 1230 kg more than 2000 Caterham 7. 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, 2012 BMW 520 (270 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 145 more torque (in Nm) than 2000 Caterham 7. (125 Nm @ 8250 RPM). This means 2012 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2000 Caterham 7. 2012 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 2000 Caterham 7 has manual transmission. 2000 Caterham 7 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2012 BMW 520 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
2000 Caterham 7 | 2012 BMW 520 | |
Make | Caterham | BMW |
Model | 7 | 520 |
Year Released | 2000 | 2012 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1137 cc | 1997 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 170 HP | 182 HP |
Engine RPM | 10750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Torque | 125 Nm | 270 Nm |
Torque RPM | 8250 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 79 mm | 90.1 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 58 mm | 84 mm |
Top Speed | 212 km/hour | 227 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 440 kg | 1670 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4899 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1010 mm | 1464 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2968 mm |