1975 Ford Escort vs. 2003 Lotus Exige
To start off, 2003 Lotus Exige is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2003 Lotus Exige is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Lotus Exige (175 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 135 more horse power than 1975 Ford Escort. (40 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2003 Lotus Exige should accelerate faster than 1975 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 Ford Escort weights approximately 95 kg more than 2003 Lotus Exige.
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, 2003 Lotus Exige (168 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 98 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Ford Escort. (70 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2003 Lotus Exige will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1975 Ford Escort | 2003 Lotus Exige | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Escort | Exige |
| Year Released | 1975 | 2003 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1098 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 40 HP | 175 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 7800 RPM |
| Torque | 70 Nm | 168 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 7.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 875 kg | 780 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 3800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1600 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2310 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 L | 36 L |
