1996 Lotus Elise vs. 1981 Toyota Soarer
To start off, 1996 Lotus Elise is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Toyota Soarer. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Toyota Soarer would be higher. At 2,759 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Toyota Soarer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Toyota Soarer (157 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1996 Lotus Elise. (116 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Toyota Soarer should accelerate faster than 1996 Lotus Elise. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Toyota Soarer weights approximately 600 kg more than 1996 Lotus Elise. 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, 1981 Toyota Soarer (235 Nm @ 4400 RPM) has 66 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Lotus Elise. (169 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Toyota Soarer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Lotus Elise. 1981 Toyota Soarer has automatic transmission and 1996 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 1996 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Toyota Soarer will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1996 Lotus Elise | 1981 Toyota Soarer | |
Make | Lotus | Toyota |
Model | Elise | Soarer |
Year Released | 1996 | 1981 |
Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
Engine Position | Middle | Front |
Engine Size | 1796 cc | 2759 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 116 HP | 157 HP |
Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5600 RPM |
Torque | 169 Nm | 235 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 705 kg | 1305 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3730 mm | 4660 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1700 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1370 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2670 mm |