1998 Lotus Elise vs. 1979 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 1998 Lotus Elise is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Toyota Corolla. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Toyota Corolla 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) has 113 more horse power than 1979 Toyota Corolla. (74 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1979 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Toyota Corolla weights approximately 156 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 77 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Toyota Corolla. (116 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1998 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Toyota Corolla.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Lotus Elise | 1979 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elise | Corolla |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1979 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1452 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 187 HP | 74 HP |
| Torque | 193 Nm | 116 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5600 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 714 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3740 mm | 4110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2410 mm |
