1996 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1988 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1996 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 8 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 3,791 cc (6 cylinders), 1996 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1996 Ford Thunderbird. (138 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1996 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 444 kg more than 1988 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1996 Ford Thunderbird (291 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 70 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1996 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Lotus Esprit. 1996 Ford Thunderbird 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. 1996 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Ford Thunderbird | 1988 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Thunderbird | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3791 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 291 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1620 kg | 1176 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5090 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2880 mm | 2440 mm |
