1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 2008 Honda Civic
To start off, 2008 Honda Civic is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Lotus Esprit 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 92 more horse power than 2008 Honda Civic. (123 HP @ 6300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2008 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 34 kg more than 2008 Honda Civic. 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, 2008 Honda Civic, 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 145 more torque (in Nm) than 2008 Honda Civic. (153 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2008 Honda Civic. 2008 Honda Civic 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. 2008 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Lotus Esprit | 2008 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Lotus | Honda |
| Model | Esprit | Civic |
| Year Released | 1988 | 2008 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1668 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 123 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6300 RPM |
| Torque | 298 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline - Premium |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1188 kg | 1154 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4440 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2630 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 50 L |
