1990 Alfa Romeo Spider vs. 1998 Lotus Elise
To start off, 1998 Lotus Elise is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider would be higher. At 1,962 cc (4 cylinders), 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Lotus Elise (187 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 63 more horse power than 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider. (124 HP @ 5600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1998 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider weights approximately 431 kg more than 1998 Lotus Elise.
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, 1998 Lotus Elise (193 Nm @ 5600 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider. (166 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1998 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider | 1998 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Alfa Romeo | Lotus |
| Model | Spider | Elise |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1998 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Roadster |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1962 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 124 HP | 187 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 166 Nm | 193 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1145 kg | 714 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4250 mm | 3740 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2310 mm |
