1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 2012 Honda Civic
To start off, 2012 Honda Civic is newer by 24 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 75 more horse power than 2012 Honda Civic. (140 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2012 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2012 Honda Civic weights approximately 70 kg more than 1988 Lotus Esprit.
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, 2012 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 125 more torque (in Nm) than 2012 Honda Civic. (173 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2012 Honda Civic. 2012 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. 2012 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Lotus Esprit | 2012 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Lotus | Honda |
| Model | Esprit | Civic |
| Year Released | 1988 | 2012 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1800 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 140 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 298 Nm | 173 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 5-speed automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1188 kg | 1258 kg |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 50 L |
