1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 1956 Riley Pathfinder
To start off, 1988 Lotus Esprit is newer by 32 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Riley Pathfinder. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Riley Pathfinder would be higher. At 2,443 cc (4 cylinders), 1956 Riley Pathfinder is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 64 more horse power than 1956 Riley Pathfinder. (108 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1956 Riley Pathfinder. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Riley Pathfinder weights approximately 360 kg more than 1988 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 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 38 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Riley Pathfinder. (183 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Riley Pathfinder.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Lotus Esprit | 1956 Riley Pathfinder | |
| Make | Lotus | Riley |
| Model | Esprit | Pathfinder |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1956 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2443 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 172 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 183 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1176 kg | 1536 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2860 mm |
