1971 Chevrolet Vega vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1971 Chevrolet Vega is newer by 2 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 2,287 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Chevrolet Vega is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1971 Chevrolet Vega. (81 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1971 Chevrolet Vega. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Chevrolet Vega weights approximately 305 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan.
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 Chevrolet Vega (167 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1971 Chevrolet Vega will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan. 1971 Chevrolet Vega 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. 1971 Chevrolet Vega will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Chevrolet Vega | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Lotus |
| Model | Vega | Elan |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2287 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 81 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 167 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 91.9 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1005 kg | 700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4310 mm | 3690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1670 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2480 mm | 2140 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 42 L | 45 L |
