1966 Lotus Elan vs. 1988 Toyota Lexcen
To start off, 1988 Toyota Lexcen is newer by 22 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 3,791 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Toyota Lexcen is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Toyota Lexcen (171 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 56 more horse power than 1966 Lotus Elan. (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Toyota Lexcen should accelerate faster than 1966 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Toyota Lexcen weights approximately 634 kg more than 1966 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, 1988 Toyota Lexcen (293 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 146 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1988 Toyota Lexcen will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Lotus Elan. 1988 Toyota Lexcen 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. 1988 Toyota Lexcen will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Lotus Elan | 1988 Toyota Lexcen | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Lexcen |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1557 cc | 3791 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 171 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 293 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 696 kg | 1330 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4900 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2740 mm |
