1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1999 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1999 Lotus Esprit is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Bristol 412. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Bristol 412 would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 Lotus Esprit (349 HP) has 178 more horse power than 1978 Bristol 412. (171 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1999 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1978 Bristol 412. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 1015 kg more than 1999 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, 1978 Bristol 412 (366 Nm) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1999 Lotus Esprit. (351 Nm). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1999 Lotus Esprit. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1999 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1999 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1999 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Bristol | Lotus |
| Model | 412 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1999 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 3506 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 349 HP |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 351 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 675 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1990 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2310 mm |
