1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 1981 Honda Accord
To start off, 1988 Lotus Esprit is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Honda Accord. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Honda Accord would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (215 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 135 more horse power than 1981 Honda Accord. (80 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 Honda Accord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 258 kg more than 1981 Honda Accord. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1988 Lotus Esprit is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1988 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Honda Accord, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 171 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Honda Accord. (127 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Honda Accord. 1981 Honda Accord 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. 1981 Honda Accord will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Lotus Esprit | 1981 Honda Accord | |
| Make | Lotus | Honda |
| Model | Esprit | Accord |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1602 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 80 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 298 Nm | 127 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 86 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1188 kg | 930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2390 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 50 L |
