1971 Lotus Seven vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1978 Opel Senator is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Seven. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Seven would be higher. At 2,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (180 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 95 more horse power than 1971 Lotus Seven. (85 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1971 Lotus Seven. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Senator weights approximately 901 kg more than 1971 Lotus Seven. 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, 1978 Opel Senator (248 Nm) has 156 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Seven. (92 Nm). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Seven. 1978 Opel Senator has automatic transmission and 1971 Lotus Seven has manual transmission. 1971 Lotus Seven will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Opel Senator will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Lotus Seven | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Lotus | Opel |
| Model | Seven | Senator |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1340 cc | 2969 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 180 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 95.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 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 | 594 kg | 1495 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3720 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1090 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 34 L | 44 L |
