How to weather the coming gas crisis in style

2008 Lotus Elise

This car is not for everybody. It’s small, tight (cramped is a better word), noisy and offers few creature comforts for its $46,270 price. However, with only 1,984 pounds to haul around, its 189horsepower engine makes it scoot, and legendary Lotus handling makes it a giant killer on the track, happily taking on Corvettes and Porsches. Good news: the little Toyota-sourced engine is also admirably thrifty with gas: 21 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg combined. Yeah, it’s not for everyone, but it’s perfect for extreme drivers who like small fuel bills.

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