A bargain Lotus for every budget

July 30, 2010 - PRLog -- Luckily, there are more cared for used Lotus’ for sale in the UK than any other country in the world. We pick five of the best buys.

Lotus Esprit

The most recent full-fat supercar built by Lotus(http://www.autotrader.co.uk/carmakes/lotus) was the V8 Esprit, on sale from 1997. Capable of 60mph in 4.3 seconds and with a top speed well over 150mph.

Its distinctive wedge shape still makes jaws drop, and it looks fast from every angle. Unfortunately reliability isn’t the Esprit’s strong point, so it’s important to buy a well looked after example with a comprehensive history.

Good examples are as close as it gets to owning Britain’s own take on the Ferrari Testarossa.

Our pick: 2002 Lotus Esprit V8

Lotus Elise

Think of Lotus, and it’s likely an Elise springs to mind. It’s the most successful car in the company’s history, with the Series 1 first going on sale in 1996 and replaced by the Series 2 in 2000. Weighing considerably less than a tonne, and with its engine mounted behind the passenger compartment, it’s a two seat convertible built to have incredible handling with few compromises.

Even with engine’s originally found in humble hatchbacks (originally from Rover, and then Toyota in the later Series 2 cars) the Elise has brutally quick acceleration, hitting 60mph in 5.8 seconds, even with the entry-level 118bhp.

Small engines give the Lotus Elise good fuel economy for a sports car, and it’s kind to its tyres, making it affordable to run. But, the thinly padded seats offer restricted comfort on long journeys and there’s little space for luggage.

Our pick: 2007 Series 2 Lotus Elise S Touring

Lotus Europa

Named after the 1960s sports car, the modern Lotus Europa coupe went on sale in 2006. It’s aimed at drivers who want a more comfortable car than the Elise – which it’s based on – better suited to covering long distances.

There’s more interior room and its 2-litre turbocharged engine is more relaxed in its delivery, but its 5.6 second 0-60mph time is hardly slow and handling is still top notch.

All in all the Lotus Europa makes an interesting alternative to the Porsche Cayman. It’s a relatively rare car and prices compare well to the smaller Elise.

Our pick: 2006 Lotus Europa S

Lotus Exige

While to the untrained eye the Exige may just look like a beefier Elise with a fixed roof, Lotus consider it a stand alone model. Indeed, the changes to its performance are eye watering.

While early models featured very highly tuned normally aspirated 1.8-litre engines, later cars are supercharged. The Lotus Exige 240R is capable of 0-60mph in less than four seconds, making it part of an elite club and faster than many supercars.

Built for the track as well as the road, large front and rear spoilers and cut slick tyres give Exige models more grip than some racing cars. This is a hardcore car and it can get hot in the cabin, so air-con is highly recommended.

Our pick: 2008 Lotus Exige S

Lotus Evora

The first all-new Lotus for 13 years was a big deal in 2009 when it went on sale, and still is now. The Lotus Evora is a key part of Lotus’ future, a sports car with room for two with occasional rear seats and a mid-mounted engine, designed to take on Porsche.

It’s the first Lotus to feature a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6, and it’s still light at just over 1,300kg. Straight line speed is impressive and handling is class-leading.

Importantly the interior has taken a leap forward too, the Evora being the most luxurious and comfortable Lotus to date.

Our pick: 2009 Lotus Evora 3.5 2+2

By Andy Goodwin, senior web journalist