1968 Lotus Elan vs. 1979 Volvo 343
To start off, 1979 Volvo 343 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1968 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 46 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 343. (70 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 343. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Volvo 343 weights approximately 140 kg more than 1968 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, 1968 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 38 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 343. (108 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1968 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 343. 1979 Volvo 343 has automatic transmission and 1968 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1968 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Volvo 343 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Lotus Elan | 1979 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | Lotus | Volvo |
| Model | Elan | 343 |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1400 mm |
