When Lotus announced it was ending production of its iconic Elise in 2021 after a 25-year production run, it sent the market into a frenzy. With no more being made, the critically acclaimed Lotus has become even hotter property, with the chances of buying one on a tight budget all but disappearing. But that doesn’t mean you can’t buy a contemporary sports car that’s still fun to drive for a fraction of the price – a Lotus Elise ‘lite’ if you will – and we’ve got three prime candidates.
TOYOTA MR2 (1999-2007)
Perhaps the most comparable of our trio is the Mk3 Toyota MR2, which emerged at the turn of the Millennium as a serious departure for the model line. Earlier iterations were coupes with the option of a T-bar, but the new W30 was a full convertible, and a lighter and
