1981 Lotus Esprit vs. 1978 Chrysler 1609
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Chrysler 1609. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Chrysler 1609 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (159 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1978 Chrysler 1609. (89 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1978 Chrysler 1609. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Chrysler 1609 weights approximately 23 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, 1981 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 88 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Chrysler 1609. (133 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Chrysler 1609. 1978 Chrysler 1609 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. 1978 Chrysler 1609 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1981 Lotus Esprit | 1978 Chrysler 1609 | |
Make | Lotus | Chrysler |
Model | Esprit | 1609 |
Year Released | 1981 | 1978 |
Engine Position | Middle | Front |
Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1639 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 159 HP | 89 HP |
Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
Torque | 221 Nm | 133 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1067 kg | 1090 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4530 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1740 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1450 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2670 mm |