2008 Honda Civic vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 2008 Honda Civic is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 Honda Civic weights approximately 425 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Because 1969 Lotus Elan 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 1969 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2008 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 12 more torque (in Nm) than 2008 Honda Civic. (135 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2008 Honda Civic. 2008 Honda Civic has automatic transmission and 1969 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1969 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2008 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2008 Honda Civic | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | Civic | Elan |
| Year Released | 2008 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1493 cc | 1558 cc |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 0 HP | 108 HP |
| Torque | 135 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 75 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.5 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 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 | 1125 kg | 700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4940 mm | 3690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1480 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2140 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 45 L |
