2003 Caterham 7 vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 2003 Caterham 7 is newer by 22 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 Caterham 7 (160 HP @ 7500 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (159 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1981 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 567 kg more than 2003 Caterham 7.
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, 1981 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 45 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Caterham 7. (176 Nm @ 5750 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
2003 Caterham 7 | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
Make | Caterham | Lotus |
Model | 7 | Esprit |
Year Released | 2003 | 1981 |
Engine Position | Front | Middle |
Engine Size | 1794 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 160 HP | 159 HP |
Engine RPM | 7500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 176 Nm | 221 Nm |
Torque RPM | 5750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.3 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 89.3 mm | 76.2 mm |
Top Speed | 209 km/hour | 217 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 500 kg | 1067 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4200 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1120 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2490 mm |