Lotus Evora

The Lotus for people who need more than a weekend toy. It arrived in 2009 as a more civilized car than the Elise, and the 2+2, the most common configuration, adds a pair of rear seats. They are tight, so think children or bags rather than adults. The engine is Toyota's 2GR-FE V6, a well-proven unit used across many Toyota models, so the heart of the car is not the worry. Only 6,117 were built, so expect to search, and ask a dealer to read the engine ECU before buying, since it shows whether the engine has been over-revved.