1974 Honda Life vs. 1995 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1995 Lotus Esprit is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Honda Life. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Honda Life would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1995 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 Lotus Esprit (286 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 257 more horse power than 1974 Honda Life. (29 HP @ 8000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1995 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1974 Honda Life. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1995 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 849 kg more than 1974 Honda Life. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1995 Lotus Esprit 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 1995 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1974 Honda Life, 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, 1995 Lotus Esprit (354 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 326 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Honda Life. (28 Nm @ 6000 RPM). This means 1995 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Honda Life.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Honda Life | 1995 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | Life | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1995 |
| Body Type | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 356 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 29 HP | 286 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 28 Nm | 354 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 6000 RPM | 3900 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 67 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 50.6 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 113 km/hour | 265 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 490 kg | 1339 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3000 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1300 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2090 mm | 2430 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 61 L | 73 L |
