1989 Ford Fairlane vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 Ford Fairlane is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1987 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1987 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 3,949 cc (6 cylinders), 1989 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Ford Fairlane (186 HP @ 4250 RPM) has 26 more horse power than 1987 Lotus Esprit. (160 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1987 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 493 kg more than 1987 Lotus Esprit. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1989 Ford Fairlane (338 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 117 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5250 RPM). This means 1989 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Lotus Esprit. 1989 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1987 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1987 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 Ford Fairlane | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Fairlane | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3949 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 186 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 338 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1560 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5030 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2490 mm |
