1985 Lotus Esprit vs. 1981 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1985 Lotus Esprit is newer by 4 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 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 65 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (93 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 18 kg more than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 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 Lotus Esprit (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 68 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (149 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 1981 Nissan Skyline has automatic transmission and 1985 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1985 Lotus Esprit 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:
| 1985 Lotus Esprit | 1981 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Esprit | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1809 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 217 Nm | 149 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1068 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2620 mm |
