1981 Holden Commodore vs. 1999 Lotus Elise
To start off, 1999 Lotus Elise is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Holden Commodore. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Holden Commodore would be higher. At 1,892 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Holden Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 Lotus Elise (118 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1981 Holden Commodore. (78 HP @ 4600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1999 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1981 Holden Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Holden Commodore weights approximately 452 kg more than 1999 Lotus Elise.
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, 1999 Lotus Elise (165 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Holden Commodore. (140 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1999 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Holden Commodore.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Holden Commodore | 1999 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Holden | Lotus |
| Model | Commodore | Elise |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1999 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Roadster |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1892 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 78 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1160 kg | 708 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4710 mm | 3730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2310 mm |
