2004 Caterham 7 vs. 1985 Lotus Excel
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Lotus Excel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Lotus Excel would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Lotus Excel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1985 Lotus Excel. (181 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1985 Lotus Excel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Lotus Excel weights approximately 701 kg more than 2004 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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 26 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Lotus Excel. (232 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Lotus Excel.
Compare all specifications:
2004 Caterham 7 | 1985 Lotus Excel | |
Make | Caterham | Lotus |
Model | 7 | Excel |
Year Released | 2004 | 1985 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1997 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 251 HP | 181 HP |
Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 258 Nm | 232 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Top Speed | 241 km/hour | 217 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 1171 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4380 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1820 mm |
Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1020 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2490 mm |