1983 Lotus Esprit vs. 1966 Rover P5
To start off, 1983 Lotus Esprit is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Rover P5. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Rover P5 would be higher. At 2,995 cc (6 cylinders), 1966 Rover P5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1983 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1966 Rover P5. (122 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1983 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1966 Rover P5. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Rover P5 weights approximately 663 kg more than 1983 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, 1983 Lotus Esprit (222 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 5 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Rover P5. (217 Nm @ 2650 RPM). This means 1983 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Rover P5. 1966 Rover P5 has automatic transmission and 1983 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1983 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1966 Rover P5 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1983 Lotus Esprit | 1966 Rover P5 | |
| Make | Lotus | Rover |
| Model | Esprit | P5 |
| Year Released | 1983 | 1966 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 122 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 217 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2650 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 85.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 85.7 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1067 kg | 1730 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2820 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 54 L |
