1979 Ford Escort vs. 1999 Lotus Elise
To start off, 1999 Lotus Elise is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 1999 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 Lotus Elise (118 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 73 more horse power than 1979 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1999 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Escort weights approximately 167 kg more than 1999 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, 1999 Lotus Elise (165 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 105 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1999 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Ford Escort | 1999 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Escort | Elise |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1999 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 939 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 45 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 60 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 875 kg | 708 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 3730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1600 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2310 mm |
