2006 Honda Civic vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 2006 Honda Civic is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (159 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 21 more horse power than 2006 Honda Civic. (138 HP @ 6300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2006 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2006 Honda Civic weights approximately 8 kg more than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Because 1981 Lotus Esprit is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1981 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2006 Honda Civic, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 47 more torque (in Nm) than 2006 Honda Civic. (174 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1981 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2006 Honda Civic. 2006 Honda Civic has automatic transmission and 1981 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1981 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2006 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2006 Honda Civic | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | Civic | Esprit |
| Year Released | 2006 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1797 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 159 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6300 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 87.3 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1075 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1690 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 12.4 L/100km | 9.1 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 31 L |
