TVR Tuscan vs Lotus Elise S2 111S

Blackpool-based TVR bowed out long before the financial apocalypse and now its remaining cars are suffering, too. The sound and fury of a Tuscan at full stretch will always thrill, but that Speed Six engine drains finances on both fuel and frequent rebuilds.

Keeping it British and niche, an equivalent-era Lotus Elise clamps down on fuel bills with an official 40.9mpg. And although the Rover (later Toyota) 1.8 has half the power, the dash from 0-60mph is only a second slower, and the handling unsurpassed. The TVR costs a mere £15 more to tax than the Lotus, but residuals for this often-problematic car are a worry. Lotus has mostly lost its Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious acronym, but with the Tuscan, it’s too often a case of Tow Vehicle Required.