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Fancy something small, lightweight and fast? Then Lotus possibly has the right car for you. In fact ‘simplify then add lightness’ was the mantra of company founder Colin Chapman as far back as 1952.

These days, Lotus sells four models, with the core of the range being the Elise. Then there’s the more hardcore 3-Eleven, the sporty Exige and the Evora – which is pitched as a rival to the Porsche Cayman.

Big changes are afoot, though, because Lotus plans to build its own SUV in the near future, with the hope of broadening the brand’s appeal to families. The planned car will use Volvo underpinnings and will tackle rivals such as the Porsche Macan and Maserati Levante.

LOTUS

EXIGE

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but on B-roads, the Exige is a blast

Used Lotus Exige Coupe 2000 - 2002

Lotus is a proper sports car maker with a proud history, and you don't buy one expecting the same running costs as a top-selling hatchback. The numbers built, coupled with their desirability, mean the Exige holds its value well.

That said, owning one is not as scary a proposition as you might expect. The car is rated in the maximum group 20 for insurance, but consider limited mileage policies to keep the premium down if it's not your everyday transport.

You'll struggle to get too close to the official fuel economy of 30mpg, but the mid-20s isn't bad for a car that can hit 60mph in under five seconds.

The biggest cost will come from servicing, which is a specialist job. It's needed every 6000 miles. Try not to crash, either; parts are pricey and insurance firms often end up writing an Exige off rather than getting it fixed.

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but on B-roads, the Exige is a blast

The first Exige went on sale in summer 2000, and 583 were sold before production ended in spring 2001. The car was powered by a 177bhp version of Rover's 1.8-litre K-series engine. It's extremely noisy in the cabin and, despite basic air-con, it gets pretty hot.

As a result, we recommend the Exige S2 (Series Two), which went on sale in 2004, and was a much bigger seller. With a slightly softer body design, it was meant to be a more usable road car. Powered by a 1.8-litre Toyota engine, it delivers 189bhp.

The Touring Pack adds leather and carpets, while Super Touring gives a slightly different interior, airbags and even a cupholder. The Sports Pack means racing seats and a roll bar, and Super Sports equals adjustable dampers and lightweight alloy wheels. In 2005, came the limited-edition Sport Exige 240R, which offered 243bhp. A year later, Lotus launched the 218bhp Exige S.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

Sports

Because this is essentially a track car that's road-legal, look for evidence of any history on the circuit. Ask the seller about what it has been used for, and about any damage or repairs. Take a good look at the service history, too. The brake discs need changing every 10,000 miles, the clutch soon after and the suspension needs to be regularly overhauled.

On early cars, fuel can leak from the petrol tank during cornering, and the catalytic converter can overheat after a misfire. There was also an issue with brakepipe chafing, and the possibility of the gearstick snapping off if you're too aggressive with your changes.

On a personal level, take time to check out the seating position. The steering rack doesn't adjust so make sure you can get comfortable and your knees are out of the way.

Despite what Lotus will tell you to the contrary, this is much more of a weekend plaything than an everyday car. It's a hard-topped two-seater, and the low doors mean getting in and out requires gymnastic levels of flexibility.

However, once you finally have established yourself behind the wheel, it's fantastic fun. The bucket seats hold you firmly in place, although some fuller-bodied people may find them too narrow.

On the motorway, the experience is noisy and unpleasant, but everywhere else it's noisy and brilliant. Find a twisty back road and the Exige will put a smile on your face; grip and cornering ability are sensational. The turn-in and steering feedback are what driving are all about.

This car's not the place for a romantic chat; despite the claustrophobic nature of the cabin, you'll struggle to hear yourself or the audio system. Storage space is virtually non-existent.

Used Lotus Exige Coupe 2000 - 2002 reliability

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Used Lotus Exige Coupe 2000 - 2002 review

Because this is essentially a track car that's road-legal, look for evidence of any history on the circuit. Ask the seller about what it has been used for, and about any damage or repairs. Take a good look at the service history, too. The brake discs need changing every 10,000 miles, the clutch soon after and the suspension needs to be regularly overhauled.,On early cars, fuel can leak from the petrol tank during cornering, and the catalytic converter can overheat after a misfire. There was also an issue with brakepipe chafing, and the possibility of the gearstick snapping off if you're too aggressive with your changes.,On a personal level, take time to check out the seating position. The steering rack doesn't adjust so make sure you can get comfortable and your knees are out of the way.

What to look for when buying a Lotus Exige 2000 - 2002, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Lotus Exige Coupe 2000 - 2002 reliability

What should I look for in a used Lotus Exige coupe?

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