1985 Alfa Romeo Spider vs. 1997 Lotus Elise
To start off, 1997 Lotus Elise is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider would be higher. At 1,960 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider (126 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1997 Lotus Elise. (117 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider should accelerate faster than 1997 Lotus Elise. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider weights approximately 456 kg more than 1997 Lotus Elise. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider (178 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 Lotus Elise. (169 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 Lotus Elise.
Compare all specifications:
1985 Alfa Romeo Spider | 1997 Lotus Elise | |
Make | Alfa Romeo | Lotus |
Model | Spider | Elise |
Year Released | 1985 | 1997 |
Body Type | Roadster | Roadster |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 1960 cc | 1796 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 126 HP | 117 HP |
Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 178 Nm | 169 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 80 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 88.5 mm | 89.4 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 10.5:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1161 kg | 705 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4250 mm | 3730 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1710 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1210 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2310 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 40 L |