1979 Ford Fairlane 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 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,093 cc (6 cylinders), 1979 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 84 more horse power than 1979 Ford Fairlane. (124 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 194 kg more than 1980 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, 1979 Ford Fairlane (296 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Lotus Esprit. 1979 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1980 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1980 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Ford Fairlane | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Fairlane | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 4093 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 124 HP | 208 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 296 Nm | 277 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1400 kg | 1206 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5020 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2450 mm |
