1978 Ford Mustang vs. 2005 Lotus Elise
To start off, 2005 Lotus Elise is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 2,786 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 Lotus Elise (120 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1978 Ford Mustang. (108 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2005 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Mustang. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Mustang weights approximately 440 kg more than 2005 Lotus Elise.
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 Ford Mustang (192 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 24 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 Lotus Elise. (168 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 Lotus Elise.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Mustang | 2005 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Mustang | Elise |
| Year Released | 1978 | 2005 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Roadster |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2786 cc | 1794 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 120 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 192 Nm | 168 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92.9 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 68.5 mm | 89.3 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline - Premium |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 785 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4560 mm | 3790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2560 mm | 2310 mm |
