1971 Lotus Elan vs. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 37 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 4,606 cc (8 cylinders), 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis (224 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 98 more horse power than 1971 Lotus Elan. (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis should accelerate faster than 1971 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 966 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis (369 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 216 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis 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. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1971 Lotus Elan | 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
Make | Lotus | Mercury |
Model | Elan | Grand Marquis |
Year Released | 1971 | 2008 |
Body Type | Convertible | Sedan |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 4606 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 126 HP | 224 HP |
Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4800 RPM |
Torque | 153 Nm | 369 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 10.3:1 | 9.4:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 870 kg | 1836 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 5370 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 2000 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1440 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2920 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 59 L | 72 L |