1971 Lotus Elan vs. 1979 Plymouth Volare
To start off, 1979 Plymouth Volare is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 3,687 cc (6 cylinders), 1979 Plymouth Volare is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 26 more horse power than 1979 Plymouth Volare. (100 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1979 Plymouth Volare. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Plymouth Volare weights approximately 595 kg more than 1971 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, 1979 Plymouth Volare (231 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 78 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1979 Plymouth Volare will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Lotus Elan | 1979 Plymouth Volare | |
| Make | Lotus | Plymouth |
| Model | Elan | Volare |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1979 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 3687 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 126 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 153 Nm | 231 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 870 kg | 1465 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2760 mm |
