1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia
To start off, 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia is newer by 29 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 (4 cylinders), 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia (197 HP @ 6400 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia weights approximately 371 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia (265 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 119 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1998 Nissan 200 SX Silvia | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Elan | 200 SX Silvia |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1998 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 197 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6400 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 265 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 86.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 86.1 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 889 kg | 1260 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 4530 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2530 mm |
