2006 BMW 325 vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit

To start off, 2006 BMW 325 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,491 cc (6 cylinders), 2006 BMW 325 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 2006 BMW 325. (184 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2006 BMW 325. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2006 BMW 325 weights approximately 409 kg more than 1980 Lotus Esprit.

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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 40 more torque (in Nm) than 2006 BMW 325. (237 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2006 BMW 325.

Compare all specifications:

2006 BMW 325 1980 Lotus Esprit
Make BMW Lotus
Model 325 Esprit
Year Released 2006 1980
Body Type Convertible Coupe
Engine Position Front Middle
Engine Size 2491 cc 2172 cc
Engine Cylinders 6 cylinders 4 cylinders
Engine Type in-line in-line
Horse Power 184 HP 208 HP
Engine RPM 6000 RPM 6250 RPM
Torque 237 Nm 277 Nm
Torque RPM 3500 RPM 4500 RPM
Engine Bore Size 84 mm 95.3 mm
Engine Stroke Size 75 mm 76.2 mm
Drive Type Rear Rear
Number of Seats 4 seats 2 seats
Number of Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 1615 kg 1206 kg
Vehicle Length 4490 mm 4200 mm
Vehicle Width 1760 mm 1870 mm
Vehicle Height 1380 mm 1120 mm
Wheelbase Size 2730 mm 2450 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 63 L 67 L