1996 Lotus Elise vs. 1987 Mazda 929
To start off, 1996 Lotus Elise is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1987 Mazda 929. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1987 Mazda 929 would be higher. At 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Mazda 929 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Lotus Elise (116 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 2 more horse power than 1987 Mazda 929. (114 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1987 Mazda 929. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Mazda 929 weights approximately 640 kg more than 1996 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, 1996 Lotus Elise (169 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Mazda 929. (167 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1996 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Mazda 929.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Lotus Elise | 1987 Mazda 929 | |
| Make | Lotus | Mazda |
| Model | Elise | 929 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 169 Nm | 167 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 705 kg | 1345 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3730 mm | 4890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2720 mm |
