1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 1973 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1988 Lotus Esprit is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 3,271 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 89 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Comet. (83 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Comet weights approximately 44 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 16 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Mercury Comet. (205 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Mercury Comet.
Compare all specifications:
1988 Lotus Esprit | 1973 Mercury Comet | |
Make | Lotus | Mercury |
Model | Esprit | Comet |
Year Released | 1988 | 1973 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Middle | Front |
Engine Size | 2174 cc | 3271 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 172 HP | 83 HP |
Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
Torque | 221 Nm | 205 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Vehicle Weight | 1176 kg | 1220 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4620 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1800 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1350 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2630 mm |