1981 Lotus Esprit vs. 1966 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 3,279 cc (6 cylinders), 1966 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (159 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1966 Mercury Comet. (118 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1966 Mercury Comet.
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, 1966 Mercury Comet (258 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 37 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1966 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
1981 Lotus Esprit | 1966 Mercury Comet | |
Make | Lotus | Mercury |
Model | Esprit | Comet |
Year Released | 1981 | 1966 |
Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
Engine Position | Middle | Front |
Engine Size | 2174 cc | 3279 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 159 HP | 118 HP |
Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
Torque | 221 Nm | 258 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 10.5:1 |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 5000 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1880 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1400 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2950 mm |