1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1972 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1972 Mercury Comet is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 2,782 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1972 Mercury Comet. (81 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1972 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Comet weights approximately 335 kg more than 1969 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, 1972 Mercury Comet (175 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1969 Lotus Elan | 1972 Mercury Comet | |
Make | Lotus | Mercury |
Model | Elan | Comet |
Year Released | 1969 | 1972 |
Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 2782 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 118 HP | 81 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
Torque | 146 Nm | 175 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Vehicle Weight | 889 kg | 1224 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 4620 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1800 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1350 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2630 mm |