1978 AMC Pacer vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 AMC Pacer. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 AMC Pacer would be higher. At 4,228 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 AMC Pacer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (210 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 100 more horse power than 1978 AMC Pacer. (110 HP @ 3500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1978 AMC Pacer. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 AMC Pacer weights approximately 149 kg more than 1980 Lotus Esprit.
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 Lotus Esprit (271 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 6 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 AMC Pacer. (265 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 AMC Pacer. 1978 AMC Pacer has automatic transmission and 1980 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1980 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 AMC Pacer will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1978 AMC Pacer | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | AMC | Lotus |
Model | Pacer | Esprit |
Year Released | 1978 | 1980 |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 4228 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 110 HP | 210 HP |
Engine RPM | 3500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 265 Nm | 271 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 95.2 mm | 95.4 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 99 mm | 76.2 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 7.5:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1368 kg | 1219 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4360 mm | 4200 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1960 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2550 mm | 2440 mm |