2001 Lotus Elise vs. 1997 Mercury MC4

To start off, 2001 Lotus Elise is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1997 Mercury MC4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1997 Mercury MC4 would be higher. At 4,601 cc (8 cylinders), 1997 Mercury MC4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Mercury MC4 (202 HP @ 4250 RPM) has 61 more horse power than 2001 Lotus Elise. (141 HP @ 7000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1997 Mercury MC4 should accelerate faster than 2001 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, 1997 Mercury MC4 (387 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 208 more torque (in Nm) than 2001 Lotus Elise. (179 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1997 Mercury MC4 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2001 Lotus Elise. 1997 Mercury MC4 has automatic transmission and 2001 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 2001 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1997 Mercury MC4 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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