1969 Lotus Elan vs. 2001 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 2001 Nissan Laurel is newer by 32 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), 2001 Nissan Laurel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 Nissan Laurel (153 HP @ 6400 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2001 Nissan Laurel should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2001 Nissan Laurel weights approximately 690 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, 2001 Nissan Laurel (190 Nm @ 4400 RPM) has 43 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 2001 Nissan Laurel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan. 2001 Nissan Laurel 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. 2001 Nissan Laurel will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 2001 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Elan | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1969 | 2001 |
| 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 |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 153 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6400 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 190 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 700 kg | 1390 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 4770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2730 mm |
