1987 Ford Sierra vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1987 Ford Sierra is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,598 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Ford Sierra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 44 more horse power than 1987 Ford Sierra. (74 HP @ 4900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1987 Ford Sierra. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Ford Sierra weights approximately 131 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan.
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, 1969 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 23 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Ford Sierra. (123 Nm @ 2900 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Ford Sierra.
Compare all specifications:
| 1987 Ford Sierra | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Sierra | Elan |
| Year Released | 1987 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1598 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 74 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4900 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 123 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2900 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1020 kg | 889 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4430 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2620 mm | 2440 mm |
