1981 Lotus Esprit vs. 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 20 more horse power than 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari. (138 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 750 kg more than 1981 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, 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari (319 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 98 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit. 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1981 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1981 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Lotus Esprit | 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Lotus | Pontiac |
| Model | Esprit | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 319 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1120 kg | 1870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2950 mm |
