1988 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 Lotus Esprit is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 3,797 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 32 more horse power than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. (140 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 431 kg more than 1989 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1988 Ford Thunderbird (292 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 71 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1988 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Lotus Esprit. 1988 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1989 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1989 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1988 Ford Thunderbird | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | Ford | Lotus |
Model | Thunderbird | Esprit |
Year Released | 1988 | 1989 |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 3797 cc | 2172 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Horse Power | 140 HP | 172 HP |
Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 292 Nm | 221 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 5000 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 | 1606 kg | 1175 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 4350 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1870 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1160 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2880 mm | 2440 mm |