1979 Ford Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 5,731 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 73 more horse power than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. (135 HP @ 3200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 607 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 Thunderbird (386 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 109 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Lotus Esprit. 1979 Ford Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Ford Thunderbird | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Thunderbird | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5731 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 208 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3200 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 386 Nm | 277 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1400 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.8 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1813 kg | 1206 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5520 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2000 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2450 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 67 L |
