1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 2005 Nissan Hardbody
To start off, 2005 Nissan Hardbody is newer by 25 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 2,389 cc (4 cylinders), 2005 Nissan Hardbody is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 63 more horse power than 2005 Nissan Hardbody. (145 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2005 Nissan Hardbody. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 Nissan Hardbody weights approximately 152 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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 69 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 Nissan Hardbody. (208 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 Nissan Hardbody.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 2005 Nissan Hardbody | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Esprit | Hardbody |
| Year Released | 1980 | 2005 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2172 cc | 2389 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 208 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 277 Nm | 208 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 3 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1206 kg | 1358 kg |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2960 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 L | 90 L |
