1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 1971 Fiat 130
To start off, 1988 Lotus Esprit is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Fiat 130. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Fiat 130 would be higher. At 2,866 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 Fiat 130 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (215 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 77 more horse power than 1971 Fiat 130. (138 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1971 Fiat 130. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Fiat 130 weights approximately 337 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 (298 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 82 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Fiat 130. (216 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Fiat 130. 1971 Fiat 130 has automatic transmission and 1988 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1988 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Fiat 130 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Lotus Esprit | 1971 Fiat 130 | |
| Make | Lotus | Fiat |
| Model | Esprit | 130 |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2866 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 298 Nm | 216 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1188 kg | 1525 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2730 mm |
