1989 Lotus Esprit vs. 1981 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 1989 Lotus Esprit is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Toyota Corolla. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Toyota Corolla would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (216 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 148 more horse power than 1981 Toyota Corolla. (68 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 263 kg more than 1981 Toyota Corolla. 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 Lotus Esprit (298 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 193 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Toyota Corolla. (105 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1989 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Toyota Corolla. 1981 Toyota Corolla has automatic transmission and 1989 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1989 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Toyota Corolla will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 Lotus Esprit | 1981 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Esprit | Corolla |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1290 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 216 HP | 68 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 298 Nm | 105 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1148 kg | 885 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2410 mm |
