1971 Fiat 130 vs. 1988 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1988 Lotus Esprit is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Fiat 130. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Fiat 130 would be higher. At 3,235 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 Fiat 130 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (215 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1971 Fiat 130. (165 HP @ 5600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1971 Fiat 130. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Fiat 130 weights approximately 354 kg more than 1988 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1988 Lotus Esprit (298 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 49 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Fiat 130. (249 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Fiat 130. 1971 Fiat 130 has automatic transmission and 1988 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1988 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Fiat 130 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Fiat 130 | 1988 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Fiat | Lotus |
| Model | 130 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3235 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 165 HP | 215 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 249 Nm | 298 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3400 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 102 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1542 kg | 1188 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 31 L |
