1986 Lotus Excel vs. 1981 Volvo 240
To start off, 1986 Lotus Excel is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Volvo 240. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Volvo 240 would be higher. At 2,383 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Volvo 240 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 Lotus Excel (180 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1981 Volvo 240. (81 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1986 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1981 Volvo 240. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Volvo 240 weights approximately 193 kg more than 1986 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, 1986 Lotus Excel (224 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 84 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Volvo 240. (140 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1986 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Volvo 240. 1986 Lotus Excel has automatic transmission and 1981 Volvo 240 has manual transmission. 1981 Volvo 240 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 | 1981 Volvo 240 | |
| Make | Lotus | Volvo |
| Model | Excel | 240 |
| Year Released | 1986 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2383 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 180 HP | 81 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 224 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 76.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 86.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.9:1 | 23.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1177 kg | 1370 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1020 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2660 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 60 L |
