1974 Lotus Eclat vs. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Lotus Eclat. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Lotus Eclat would be higher. At 2,746 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 (182 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 1974 Lotus Eclat. (160 HP @ 6200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1974 Lotus Eclat. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 weights approximately 495 kg more than 1974 Lotus Eclat. 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, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 (233 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 43 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Lotus Eclat. (190 Nm @ 4900 RPM). This means 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Lotus Eclat. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 has automatic transmission and 1974 Lotus Eclat has manual transmission. 1974 Lotus Eclat will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Lotus Eclat | 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Eclat | 280 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 2746 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 182 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6200 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 233 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4900 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 1550 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 4760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2830 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 L | 90 L |
