1986 Lotus Excel vs. 1968 Opel Olympia
To start off, 1986 Lotus Excel is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Opel Olympia. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Opel Olympia would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1986 Lotus Excel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 Lotus Excel (180 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 121 more horse power than 1968 Opel Olympia. (59 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1986 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1968 Opel Olympia. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1986 Lotus Excel weights approximately 397 kg more than 1968 Opel Olympia. 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, 1986 Lotus Excel (224 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 138 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Opel Olympia. (86 Nm @ 4400 RPM). This means 1986 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Opel Olympia. 1986 Lotus Excel has automatic transmission and 1968 Opel Olympia has manual transmission. 1968 Opel Olympia will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1986 Lotus Excel will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1986 Lotus Excel | 1968 Opel Olympia | |
| Make | Lotus | Opel |
| Model | Excel | Olympia |
| Year Released | 1986 | 1968 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1078 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 180 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 224 Nm | 86 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 75 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 61 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.9:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1177 kg | 780 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4190 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1020 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2420 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 70 L |
