2004 Lotus Elise vs. 1981 Toyota Celica
To start off, 2004 Lotus Elise is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Toyota Celica. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Toyota Celica 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 13 more horse power than 1981 Toyota Celica. (107 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1981 Toyota Celica. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Toyota Celica weights approximately 360 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 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Toyota Celica. (147 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 2004 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Toyota Celica.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Lotus Elise | 1981 Toyota Celica | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elise | Celica |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1981 |
| 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 | 107 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 172 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89.3 mm | 77 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 750 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 4460 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2510 mm |
