2009 Honda Civic vs. 1988 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 2009 Honda Civic is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 32 more horse power than 2009 Honda Civic. (140 HP @ 6300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 2009 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 47 kg more than 2009 Honda Civic. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1988 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 1988 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2009 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, 1988 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 47 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 Honda Civic. (174 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 Honda Civic. 2009 Honda Civic has automatic transmission and 1988 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1988 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2009 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 Honda Civic | 1988 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | Civic | Esprit |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1988 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1799 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6300 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1129 kg | 1176 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2660 mm | 2440 mm |
