1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1997 Peugeot 406

To start off, 1997 Peugeot 406 is newer by 17 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 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (210 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 136 more horse power than 1997 Peugeot 406. (74 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1997 Peugeot 406. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Peugeot 406 weights approximately 218 kg more than 1980 Lotus Esprit.

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, 1997 Peugeot 406, 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 (271 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 135 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 Peugeot 406. (136 Nm @ 2250 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 Peugeot 406.

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