1978 Buick LeSabre vs. 1964 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1978 Buick LeSabre is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 3,791 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Buick LeSabre is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Buick LeSabre (104 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1964 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Buick LeSabre should accelerate faster than 1964 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Buick LeSabre weights approximately 1000 kg more than 1964 Lotus Elan. 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 Buick LeSabre (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 113 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1978 Buick LeSabre will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Lotus Elan. 1978 Buick LeSabre has automatic transmission and 1964 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1964 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Buick LeSabre will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Buick LeSabre | 1964 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Buick | Lotus |
| Model | LeSabre | Elan |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1964 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3791 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 104 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 138 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1590 kg | 590 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5550 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1910 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2140 mm |
