2005 BMW 730 vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 2005 BMW 730 is newer by 34 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 2,979 cc (6 cylinders), 2005 BMW 730 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 BMW 730 (225 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1971 Lotus Elan. (126 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2005 BMW 730 should accelerate faster than 1971 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 BMW 730 weights approximately 1105 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan. 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, 2005 BMW 730 (500 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 347 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 2005 BMW 730 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan. 2005 BMW 730 has automatic transmission and 1971 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1971 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2005 BMW 730 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
2005 BMW 730 | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 730 | Elan |
Year Released | 2005 | 1971 |
Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2979 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 225 HP | 126 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 500 Nm | 153 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84.1 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 72.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 18.0:1 | 10.3:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1975 kg | 870 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 4270 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1910 mm | 1620 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2890 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 88 L | 59 L |