2008 BMW 318 vs. 2003 Caterham 7
To start off, 2008 BMW 318 is newer by 5 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), 2008 BMW 318 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Caterham 7 (160 HP @ 7500 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 2008 BMW 318. (148 HP @ 6200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2003 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 2008 BMW 318. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 BMW 318 weights approximately 895 kg more 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, 2008 BMW 318 (201 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Caterham 7. (176 Nm @ 5750 RPM). This means 2008 BMW 318 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
2008 BMW 318 | 2003 Caterham 7 | |
Make | BMW | Caterham |
Model | 318 | 7 |
Year Released | 2008 | 2003 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1995 cc | 1794 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 148 HP | 160 HP |
Engine RPM | 6200 RPM | 7500 RPM |
Torque | 201 Nm | 176 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 5750 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 80 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 89.3 mm |
Top Speed | 219 km/hour | 209 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1395 kg | 500 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4490 mm | 3110 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1580 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 810 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2230 mm |