2005 BMW 316 vs. 2000 Caterham 7
To start off, 2005 BMW 316 is newer by 5 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 1,795 cc (4 cylinders), 2000 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2000 Caterham 7 (230 HP @ 8600 RPM) has 117 more horse power than 2005 BMW 316. (113 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2000 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 2005 BMW 316. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 BMW 316 weights approximately 1005 kg more than 2000 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 Caterham 7 (210 Nm @ 7200 RPM) has 35 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 BMW 316. (175 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 2000 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 BMW 316.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 BMW 316 | 2000 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | BMW | Caterham |
| Model | 316 | 7 |
| Year Released | 2005 | 2000 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1794 cc | 1795 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 230 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 8600 RPM |
| Torque | 175 Nm | 210 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 7200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 89.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 11.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 200 km/hour | 235 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1465 kg | 460 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4480 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2230 mm |
