1985 Lotus Excel vs. 2011 Ford F-350
To start off, 2011 Ford F-350 is newer by 26 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 6,200 cc (8 cylinders), 2011 Ford F-350 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 Ford F-350 (385 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 204 more horse power than 1985 Lotus Excel. (181 HP @ 6500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 Ford F-350 should accelerate faster 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, 2011 Ford F-350 (548 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 316 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Lotus Excel. (232 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 2011 Ford F-350 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Lotus Excel. 2011 Ford F-350 has automatic transmission and 1985 Lotus Excel has manual transmission. 1985 Lotus Excel will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2011 Ford F-350 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Lotus Excel | 2011 Ford F-350 | |
| Make | Lotus | Ford |
| Model | Excel | F-350 |
| Year Released | 1985 | 2011 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Pickup |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 6200 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 181 HP | 385 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 232 Nm | 548 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Flex Fuel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 6-speed shiftable automatic |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 6269 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 2029 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1020 mm | 1961 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 3967 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 66 L | 132 L |
