2005 Lotus Exige vs. 1981 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 2005 Lotus Exige is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 Lotus Exige (240 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1981 Pontiac Firebird. (200 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2005 Lotus Exige should accelerate faster than 1981 Pontiac Firebird.
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 Pontiac Firebird (459 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 222 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 Lotus Exige. (237 Nm @ 7000 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 Lotus Exige. 1981 Pontiac Firebird has automatic transmission and 2005 Lotus Exige has manual transmission. 2005 Lotus Exige will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Pontiac Firebird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
2005 Lotus Exige | 1981 Pontiac Firebird | |
Make | Lotus | Pontiac |
Model | Exige | Firebird |
Year Released | 2005 | 1981 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Middle | Front |
Engine Size | 1796 cc | 4942 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 240 HP | 200 HP |
Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 237 Nm | 459 Nm |
Torque RPM | 7000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 101.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 85 mm | 76.2 mm |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Length | 3800 mm | 5040 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1860 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1260 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2750 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 L | 79 L |