2002 Honda NSX vs. 1981 Nissan Leopard
To start off, 2002 Honda NSX is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Leopard. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Leopard would be higher. At 2,977 cc (6 cylinders), 2002 Honda NSX is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2002 Honda NSX (249 HP @ 6600 RPM) has 152 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Leopard. (97 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2002 Honda NSX should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Leopard. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2002 Honda NSX weights approximately 329 kg more than 1981 Nissan Leopard. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 2002 Honda NSX (287 Nm @ 5300 RPM) has 140 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Leopard. (147 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 2002 Honda NSX will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Leopard. 2002 Honda NSX has automatic transmission and 1981 Nissan Leopard has manual transmission. 1981 Nissan Leopard will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2002 Honda NSX will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2002 Honda NSX | 1981 Nissan Leopard | |
| Make | Honda | Nissan |
| Model | NSX | Leopard |
| Year Released | 2002 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2977 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 249 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6600 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 287 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5300 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1434 kg | 1105 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4430 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2540 mm | 2630 mm |
