1966 Lotus Elan vs. 2003 Honda Civic
To start off, 2003 Honda Civic is newer by 37 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 1,590 cc (4 cylinders), 2003 Honda Civic is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Lotus Elan (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 7 more horse power than 2003 Honda Civic. (108 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 2003 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2003 Honda Civic weights approximately 394 kg more than 1966 Lotus Elan.
Because 1966 Lotus Elan is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1966 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2003 Honda Civic, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1966 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 12 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Honda Civic. (135 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1966 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Honda Civic. 2003 Honda Civic 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. 2003 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Lotus Elan | 2003 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Lotus | Honda |
| Model | Elan | Civic |
| Year Released | 1966 | 2003 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1557 cc | 1590 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 135 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.8:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 696 kg | 1090 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4440 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2630 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 50 L |
