1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1978 Seat 131
To start off, 1978 Seat 131 is newer by 9 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 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP) has 55 more horse power than 1978 Seat 131. (53 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1978 Seat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Seat 131 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 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Seat 131. (94 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Seat 131.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1978 Seat 131 | |
| Make | Lotus | Seat |
| Model | Elan | 131 |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1297 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 53 HP |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 94 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| 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 | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2500 mm |
