1985 Lotus Esprit vs. 1998 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 1998 Nissan Laurel is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Lotus Esprit 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 5 more horse power than 1998 Nissan Laurel. (153 HP @ 6400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1998 Nissan Laurel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Nissan Laurel weights approximately 322 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 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1998 Nissan Laurel. (190 Nm @ 4400 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1998 Nissan Laurel. 1998 Nissan Laurel 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. 1998 Nissan Laurel will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Lotus Esprit | 1998 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Esprit | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1998 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 153 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6400 RPM |
| Torque | 217 Nm | 190 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1068 kg | 1390 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2730 mm |
