1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante would be higher. At 5,340 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante (317 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 159 more horse power than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (158 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante should accelerate faster than 1981 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante weights approximately 694 kg more than 1981 Lotus Esprit. 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 Aston Martin V8 Volante (434 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 213 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Aston Martin | Lotus |
| Model | V8 Volante | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5340 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 317 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 434 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1814 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4670 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2620 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 97 L | 67 L |
