1963 Lotus Elan vs. 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 48 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 4,600 cc (8 cylinders), 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis (224 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 124 more horse power than 1963 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis should accelerate faster than 1963 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 1273 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, 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis (372 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 234 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Lotus Elan. 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis 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. 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1963 Lotus Elan | 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercury |
| Model | Elan | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 1963 | 2011 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1498 cc | 4600 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 224 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 372 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Flex Fuel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 594 kg | 1867 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 5385 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1989 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2911 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 72 L |
