2005 Honda NSX vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 2005 Honda NSX is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1989 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1989 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,977 cc (6 cylinders), 2005 Honda NSX is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (264 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 2005 Honda NSX. (240 HP @ 6600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2005 Honda NSX. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 Honda NSX weights approximately 101 kg more than 1989 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1989 Lotus Esprit (353 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 66 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 Honda NSX. (287 Nm @ 5300 RPM). This means 1989 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 Honda NSX. 2005 Honda NSX has automatic transmission and 1989 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1989 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2005 Honda NSX will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 Honda NSX | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | NSX | Esprit |
| Year Released | 2005 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2977 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 240 HP | 264 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 287 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5300 RPM | 3900 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1430 kg | 1329 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4430 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2540 mm | 2460 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 31 L |
