1963 Lotus Elan vs. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer
To start off, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is newer by 46 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 4,606 cc (8 cylinders), 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer (292 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 192 more horse power than 1963 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer should accelerate faster than 1963 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer weights approximately 1238 kg more than 1963 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, 2009 Mercury Mountaineer (427 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 289 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 2009 Mercury Mountaineer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Lotus Elan. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer has automatic transmission and 1963 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1963 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1963 Lotus Elan | 2009 Mercury Mountaineer | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercury |
| Model | Elan | Mountaineer |
| Year Released | 1963 | 2009 |
| Body Type | Convertible | SUV |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1498 cc | 4606 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 3 valves |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 292 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 427 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.7:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 7 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 594 kg | 1832 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1880 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1860 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2890 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 85 L |
