1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1981 Toyota Corona
To start off, 1981 Toyota Corona 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 1,587 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Toyota Corona is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1981 Toyota Corona. (68 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1981 Toyota Corona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Toyota Corona weights approximately 350 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 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Toyota Corona. (117 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Toyota Corona. 1981 Toyota Corona has automatic transmission and 1969 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1969 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Toyota Corona will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1981 Toyota Corona | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Corona |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1587 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 68 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 117 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 70 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 700 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2530 mm |
