Used buyer's guide: Lotus Europa pictures

The Europa seats two, but due to the wide sills and narrow cabin, they’d better not be too big. The seats are low and there’s plenty of unpainted aluminium on show, so it feels like a sports car rather than a tourer. The boot holds onl

Rear visibility is poor, and most Europas don’t have any parking sensors, so watch for scrapes at the corner of bumpers.

Ignition system’s coil packs can fail. Rev the car in low gear to check for a misfire. Also, the sump can corrode, leading to oil leaks.

Heat shield above the flexi-joint in the exhaust system can rust through. This lets heat into the engine bay, which can damage parts.Door-mounted mirrors are held in place by two plastic dowels, which break if the mirror gets knocked.

Door-mounted mirrors are held in place by two plastic dowels, which break if the mirror gets knocked. Check the mirror is secure.