1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 Lotus Esprit is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Buick Riviera. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Buick Riviera would be higher. At 7,468 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Buick Riviera (311 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 95 more horse power than 1989 Lotus Esprit. (216 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1989 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 892 kg more than 1989 Lotus Esprit. 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, 1971 Buick Riviera (617 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 319 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Lotus Esprit. (298 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Lotus Esprit. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1989 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1989 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Buick Riviera will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Buick Riviera | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Buick | Lotus |
| Model | Riviera | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 216 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 298 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2440 mm |
