1981 Lotus Esprit vs. 2011 Honda Civic
To start off, 2011 Honda Civic is newer by 30 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, 1981 Lotus Esprit (159 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 2011 Honda Civic. (140 HP @ 6300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2011 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2011 Honda Civic weights approximately 217 kg more than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Because 1981 Lotus Esprit 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 1981 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2011 Honda Civic, 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, 1981 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 48 more torque (in Nm) than 2011 Honda Civic. (173 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2011 Honda Civic. 2011 Honda Civic 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. 2011 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Lotus Esprit | 2011 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Lotus | Honda |
| Model | Esprit | Civic |
| Year Released | 1981 | 2011 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1800 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 159 HP | 140 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6300 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 173 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1067 kg | 1284 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4503 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1753 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1435 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2700 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 50 L |
