1979 Daihatsu Charmant vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Daihatsu Charmant. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Daihatsu Charmant would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (210 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 143 more horse power than 1979 Daihatsu Charmant. (67 HP @ 5600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1979 Daihatsu Charmant. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 419 kg more than 1979 Daihatsu Charmant. 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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (271 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 168 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Daihatsu Charmant. (103 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Daihatsu Charmant.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Daihatsu Charmant | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Daihatsu | Lotus |
| Model | Charmant | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1290 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 67 HP | 210 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 103 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 800 kg | 1219 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4120 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2340 mm | 2440 mm |
