1971 Buick Riviera vs. 2007 Lotus Elise
To start off, 2007 Lotus Elise is newer by 36 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 121 more horse power than 2007 Lotus Elise. (190 HP @ 7800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 2007 Lotus Elise. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 1144 kg more than 2007 Lotus Elise. 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 430 more torque (in Nm) than 2007 Lotus Elise. (187 Nm @ 6800 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2007 Lotus Elise. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 2007 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 2007 Lotus Elise 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 | 2007 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Buick | Lotus |
| Model | Riviera | Elise |
| Year Released | 1971 | 2007 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Roadster |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 190 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 7800 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 187 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 6800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 12.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline - Premium |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 896 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 3790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2310 mm |
