1979 Honda Accord vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1979 Honda Accord is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,599 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Honda Accord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 46 more horse power than 1979 Honda Accord. (80 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1979 Honda Accord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Honda Accord weights approximately 60 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Because 1971 Lotus Elan is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1971 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1979 Honda Accord, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1971 Lotus Elan (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Honda Accord. (126 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1971 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Honda Accord.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Honda Accord | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | Accord | Elan |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1971 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1599 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 80 HP | 126 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 126 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 77 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 | 10.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 930 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2290 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 59 L |
