1970 Honda N III vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1970 Honda N III is newer by 1 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 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 85 more horse power than 1970 Honda N III. (31 HP @ 8500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1970 Honda N III. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Lotus Elan weights approximately 355 kg more than 1970 Honda N III. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1969 Lotus Elan is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1969 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1970 Honda N III, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 116 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Honda N III. (30 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Honda N III.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Honda N III | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | N III | Elan |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 354 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8500 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 30 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 62.5 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 57.8 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 10.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 495 kg | 850 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3000 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1300 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2440 mm |
