1985 Lotus Esprit vs. 1955 Riley Pathfinder
To start off, 1985 Lotus Esprit is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Riley Pathfinder. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Riley Pathfinder would be higher. At 2,443 cc (4 cylinders), 1955 Riley Pathfinder is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1955 Riley Pathfinder. (108 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1955 Riley Pathfinder. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1955 Riley Pathfinder weights approximately 467 kg more than 1985 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, 1985 Lotus Esprit (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 35 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Riley Pathfinder. (182 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Riley Pathfinder.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Lotus Esprit | 1955 Riley Pathfinder | |
| Make | Lotus | Riley |
| Model | Esprit | Pathfinder |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1955 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2443 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 217 Nm | 182 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 7.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1068 kg | 1535 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2860 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 59 L |
