1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1985 Ford Meteor
To start off, 1985 Ford Meteor is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,172 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 126 more horse power than 1985 Ford Meteor. (82 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1985 Ford Meteor.
Because 1980 Lotus Esprit 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 1980 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1985 Ford Meteor, 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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 154 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Ford Meteor. (123 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Ford Meteor. 1985 Ford Meteor 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. 1985 Ford Meteor will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1985 Ford Meteor | |
| Make | Lotus | Ford |
| Model | Esprit | Meteor |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1985 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2172 cc | 1597 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 208 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 277 Nm | 123 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2410 mm |
