2003 BMW 520 vs. 2004 Caterham 7
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2003 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2003 BMW 520 would be higher. At 2,171 cc (6 cylinders), 2003 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 84 more horse power than 2003 BMW 520. (167 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 2003 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2003 BMW 520 weights approximately 1090 kg more than 2004 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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 48 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 BMW 520. (210 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
2003 BMW 520 | 2004 Caterham 7 | |
Make | BMW | Caterham |
Model | 520 | 7 |
Year Released | 2003 | 2004 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2171 cc | 1997 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 167 HP | 251 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 8000 RPM |
Torque | 210 Nm | 258 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Top Speed | 230 km/hour | 241 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1560 kg | 470 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4850 mm | 3110 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1580 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 810 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 3000 mm | 2230 mm |