1998 Lotus Elise vs. 1974 Toyota Carina
To start off, 1998 Lotus Elise is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Toyota Carina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Toyota Carina would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 1998 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Lotus Elise (187 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 88 more horse power than 1974 Toyota Carina. (99 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1974 Toyota Carina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Toyota Carina weights approximately 236 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 58 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Toyota Carina. (135 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1998 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Toyota Carina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Lotus Elise | 1974 Toyota Carina | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elise | Carina |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1589 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 187 HP | 99 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 193 Nm | 135 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5600 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 714 kg | 950 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3740 mm | 4140 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2430 mm |
