2003 Caterham 7 vs. 2012 BMW 520
To start off, 2012 BMW 520 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2003 Caterham 7. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2003 Caterham 7 would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 2012 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 BMW 520 (182 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 2003 Caterham 7. (160 HP @ 7500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 2003 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, 2012 BMW 520 (380 Nm @ 2750 RPM) has 204 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Caterham 7. (176 Nm @ 5750 RPM). This means 2012 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Caterham 7. 2012 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 2003 Caterham 7 has manual transmission. 2003 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:
2003 Caterham 7 | 2012 BMW 520 | |
Make | Caterham | BMW |
Model | 7 | 520 |
Year Released | 2003 | 2012 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1794 cc | 1995 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 160 HP | 182 HP |
Engine RPM | 7500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 176 Nm | 380 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5750 RPM | 2750 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 90 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 89.3 mm | 84 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4907 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1462 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2968 mm |