1988 Holden Commodore vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1988 Holden Commodore is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,961 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Holden Commodore is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1988 Holden Commodore. (153 HP @ 5200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1988 Holden Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Holden Commodore weights approximately 95 kg more than 1981 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 Holden Commodore (247 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 26 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1988 Holden Commodore will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Holden Commodore | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Holden | Lotus |
| Model | Commodore | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2961 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 153 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 247 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1215 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4770 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2440 mm |
