1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1981 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 1981 Nissan Laurel is newer by 12 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 1,998 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Laurel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Laurel. (96 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Laurel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Nissan Laurel weights approximately 239 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 (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 11 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Laurel. (135 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Laurel.
Compare all specifications:
1969 Lotus Elan | 1981 Nissan Laurel | |
Make | Lotus | Nissan |
Model | Elan | Laurel |
Year Released | 1969 | 1981 |
Body Type | Convertible | Sedan |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1998 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 118 HP | 96 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
Torque | 146 Nm | 135 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 889 kg | 1128 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 4060 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1630 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1400 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2410 mm |