1983 Lotus Excel vs. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230
To start off, 1983 Lotus Excel is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230 would be higher. At 2,298 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1983 Lotus Excel (160 HP) has 26 more horse power than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230. (134 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1983 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230 weights approximately 225 kg more than 1983 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, 1983 Lotus Excel (218 Nm @ 5250 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230. (205 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1983 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230.
Compare all specifications:
| 1983 Lotus Excel | 1979 Mercedes-Benz 230 | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Excel | 230 |
| Year Released | 1983 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 134 HP |
| Torque | 218 Nm | 205 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5250 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 95.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Top Speed | 206 km/hour | 180 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1135 kg | 1360 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1020 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2800 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 9.1 L/100km | 8.9 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 65 L |
