1985 Lotus Excel vs. 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230
To start off, 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Lotus Excel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Lotus Excel would be higher. At 2,297 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Excel (181 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230. (130 HP @ 5100 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230 weights approximately 169 kg more than 1985 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, 1985 Lotus Excel (232 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 34 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230. (198 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Lotus Excel | 1987 Mercedes-Benz 230 | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Excel | 230 |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2297 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 181 HP | 130 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5100 RPM |
| Torque | 232 Nm | 198 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 95.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.9:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 217 km/hour | 200 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1171 kg | 1340 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4660 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1020 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2720 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 66 L | 70 L |
