2005 BMW 520 vs. 2000 Caterham 7
To start off, 2005 BMW 520 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 2,171 cc (6 cylinders), 2005 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2000 Caterham 7 (230 HP @ 8600 RPM) has 60 more horse power than 2005 BMW 520. (170 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2000 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 2005 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 BMW 520 weights approximately 1210 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, both vehicles can yield 210 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 BMW 520 | 2000 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | BMW | Caterham |
| Model | 520 | 7 |
| Year Released | 2005 | 2000 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2171 cc | 1795 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 170 HP | 230 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 8600 RPM |
| Torque | 210 Nm | 210 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 7200 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 11.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1670 kg | 460 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2230 mm |
