1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1984 Opel Senator
To start off, 1984 Opel Senator is newer by 15 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 2,197 cc (4 cylinders), 1984 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1984 Opel Senator. (114 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1984 Opel Senator. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1984 Opel Senator weights approximately 431 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, 1984 Opel Senator (186 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 40 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1984 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1984 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Lotus | Opel |
| Model | Elan | Senator |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 2197 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 186 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 889 kg | 1320 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 4820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2690 mm |
