1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1998 Pontiac Bonneville
To start off, 1998 Pontiac Bonneville is newer by 18 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 3,791 cc (6 cylinders), 1998 Pontiac Bonneville is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 3 more horse power than 1998 Pontiac Bonneville. (205 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1998 Pontiac Bonneville. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Pontiac Bonneville weights approximately 354 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, 1998 Pontiac Bonneville, 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, 1998 Pontiac Bonneville (306 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1998 Pontiac Bonneville will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Lotus Esprit. 1998 Pontiac Bonneville 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. 1998 Pontiac Bonneville will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1998 Pontiac Bonneville | |
| Make | Lotus | Pontiac |
| Model | Esprit | Bonneville |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1998 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2172 cc | 3791 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 208 HP | 205 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 277 Nm | 306 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 96.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 86.4 mm |
| 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 Weight | 1206 kg | 1560 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 5120 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2700 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 L | 68 L |
