1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1977 Toyota Carina
To start off, 1977 Toyota Carina is newer by 8 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 1,770 cc (4 cylinders), 1977 Toyota Carina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 1977 Toyota Carina. (86 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1977 Toyota Carina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Toyota Carina weights approximately 265 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 Toyota Carina. (145 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 Toyota Carina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1977 Toyota Carina | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Carina |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1770 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 78 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 700 kg | 965 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 4240 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2510 mm |
