1971 Lotus Elan vs. 1985 Nissan Santana
To start off, 1985 Nissan Santana is newer by 14 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 1,781 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Nissan Santana is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1985 Nissan Santana. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1985 Nissan Santana. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Nissan Santana weights approximately 204 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Because 1971 Lotus Elan is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1971 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1985 Nissan Santana, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 Lotus Elan (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 11 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Nissan Santana. (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1971 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Nissan Santana. 1985 Nissan Santana has automatic transmission and 1971 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1971 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1985 Nissan Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Lotus Elan | 1985 Nissan Santana | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Elan | Santana |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1985 |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1781 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 126 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 153 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 870 kg | 1074 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4550 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2560 mm |
