1986 Lotus Excel vs. 1999 Renault Spider
To start off, 1999 Renault Spider is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1986 Lotus Excel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1986 Lotus Excel would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1986 Lotus Excel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 Renault Spider (296 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 116 more horse power than 1986 Lotus Excel. (180 HP @ 6500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1999 Renault Spider should accelerate faster than 1986 Lotus Excel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1986 Lotus Excel weights approximately 181 kg more than 1999 Renault Spider.
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, 1999 Renault Spider (340 Nm @ 3120 RPM) has 116 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Lotus Excel. (224 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1999 Renault Spider will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Lotus Excel. 1986 Lotus Excel has automatic transmission and 1999 Renault Spider has manual transmission. 1999 Renault Spider 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 | 1999 Renault Spider | |
| Make | Lotus | Renault |
| Model | Excel | Spider |
| Year Released | 1986 | 1999 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Roadster |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 180 HP | 296 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 224 Nm | 340 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3120 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1177 kg | 996 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 3800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1840 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1020 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2350 mm |
