1966 Lotus Elan vs. 1980 Toyota Corona
To start off, 1980 Toyota Corona is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 2,366 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Toyota Corona is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Lotus Elan (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1980 Toyota Corona. (97 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1980 Toyota Corona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Toyota Corona weights approximately 469 kg more than 1966 Lotus Elan.
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 Toyota Corona (175 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1980 Toyota Corona will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Lotus Elan. 1980 Toyota Corona has automatic transmission and 1966 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1966 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Toyota Corona will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Lotus Elan | 1980 Toyota Corona | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Corona |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1557 cc | 2366 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 175 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 696 kg | 1165 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2530 mm |
