1982 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1985 Lotus Excel
To start off, 1985 Lotus Excel is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1982 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1982 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 4,186 cc (8 cylinders), 1982 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Excel (181 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. (111 HP @ 3400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1982 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 406 kg more than 1985 Lotus Excel.
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, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (264 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 32 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Lotus Excel. (232 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1982 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Lotus Excel. 1982 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1985 Lotus Excel has manual transmission. 1985 Lotus Excel will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1982 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1982 Ford Thunderbird | 1985 Lotus Excel | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Thunderbird | Excel |
| Year Released | 1982 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4186 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 111 HP | 181 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 264 Nm | 232 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 93.5 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.2:1 | 10.9:1 |
| Top Speed | 180 km/hour | 217 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1577 kg | 1171 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5100 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1020 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2760 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 66 L |
