1998 Lotus Elise vs. 1978 Toyota Corona
To start off, 1998 Lotus Elise is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Toyota Corona. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Toyota Corona would be higher. At 1,968 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Toyota Corona is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Lotus Elise (187 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 97 more horse power than 1978 Toyota Corona. (90 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1978 Toyota Corona. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Toyota Corona weights approximately 376 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 48 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Toyota Corona. (145 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1998 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Toyota Corona. 1978 Toyota Corona has automatic transmission and 1998 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 1998 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Toyota Corona will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Lotus Elise | 1978 Toyota Corona | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elise | Corona |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1968 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 187 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 193 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5600 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 714 kg | 1090 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3740 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2510 mm |
