1990 Lotus Esprit vs. 2011 Honda Civic

To start off, 2011 Honda Civic is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1990 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1990 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,400 cc (4 cylinders), 2011 Honda Civic is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 Honda Civic (201 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1990 Lotus Esprit. (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 Honda Civic should accelerate faster than 1990 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2011 Honda Civic weights approximately 130 kg more than 1990 Lotus Esprit. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1990 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 1990 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2011 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, 2011 Honda Civic (230 Nm @ 4400 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 2011 Honda Civic will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Lotus Esprit.

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