1971 Ford Mustang vs. 1985 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1985 Lotus Esprit is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 4,726 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Ford Mustang (251 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 93 more horse power than 1985 Lotus Esprit. (158 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1985 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 68 kg more than 1971 Ford Mustang.
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, 1985 Lotus Esprit (217 Nm) has 71 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Mustang. (146 Nm). This means 1985 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Mustang.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Mustang | 1985 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Mustang | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1985 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 4726 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 217 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.9 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 1068 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1860 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2490 mm |
