2004 Lotus Elise vs. 1974 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 2004 Lotus Elise is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Toyota Corolla. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Toyota Corolla would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2004 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Lotus Elise (120 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1974 Toyota Corolla. (75 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1974 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Toyota Corolla weights approximately 198 kg more than 2004 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, 2004 Lotus Elise (172 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Toyota Corolla. (115 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 2004 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Toyota Corolla.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Lotus Elise | 1974 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elise | Corolla |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 75 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 172 Nm | 115 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89.3 mm | 70 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 750 kg | 948 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 4090 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2380 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 50 L |
