1983 Lotus Excel vs. 1981 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1983 Lotus Excel is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Skyline. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Skyline would be higher. At 2,792 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Skyline is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1983 Lotus Excel (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 75 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (85 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1983 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Nissan Skyline weights approximately 83 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 48 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (170 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1983 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 1981 Nissan Skyline has automatic transmission and 1983 Lotus Excel has manual transmission. 1983 Lotus Excel will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Nissan Skyline will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1983 Lotus Excel | 1981 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Excel | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1983 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2792 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 85 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 218 Nm | 170 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5250 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1135 kg | 1218 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1020 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2620 mm |
