1981 Honda Accord vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1981 Honda Accord is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,602 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Honda Accord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1981 Honda Accord. (80 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1981 Honda Accord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Honda Accord weights approximately 41 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Because 1969 Lotus Elan 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 1969 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Honda Accord, 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Honda Accord. (127 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Honda Accord.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Honda Accord | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | Accord | Elan |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1602 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 80 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 127 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 77 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 930 kg | 889 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2390 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 59 L |
