1981 Lotus Esprit vs. 1998 Nissan Silvia
To start off, 1998 Nissan Silvia is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Nissan Silvia (250 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 92 more horse power than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1998 Nissan Silvia should accelerate faster 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, 1998 Nissan Silvia (271 Nm) has 50 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm). This means 1998 Nissan Silvia will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Lotus Esprit | 1998 Nissan Silvia | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Esprit | Silvia |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1998 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 250 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1290 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2530 mm |
