1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 1981 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1988 Lotus Esprit is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (145 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 366 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, 1981 Pontiac Firebird (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 103 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Lotus Esprit | 1981 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Lotus | Pontiac |
| Model | Esprit | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 5012 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 172 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 324 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1176 kg | 1542 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 5040 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2750 mm |
