1981 Ford Fairlane vs. 1974 Lotus Elite
To start off, 1981 Ford Fairlane is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Lotus Elite. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Lotus Elite would be higher. At 4,092 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Lotus Elite (142 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1981 Ford Fairlane. (124 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Lotus Elite should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 340 kg more than 1974 Lotus Elite.
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, 1981 Ford Fairlane (296 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 119 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Lotus Elite. (177 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1981 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Lotus Elite. 1981 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1974 Lotus Elite has manual transmission. 1974 Lotus Elite will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1981 Ford Fairlane | 1974 Lotus Elite | |
Make | Ford | Lotus |
Model | Fairlane | Elite |
Year Released | 1981 | 1974 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4092 cc | 1973 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 124 HP | 142 HP |
Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 296 Nm | 177 Nm |
Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1400 kg | 1060 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5020 mm | 4470 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1830 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1220 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2490 mm |