Is the Lotus Elise a good investment?

The thesis

The Toyota-powered 111R delivers 189bhp, a six-speed manual, sublime handling, and bulletproof reliability in a 900kg package—the purest analogue driving experience available in this price bracket. Recent analysis confirms S2 111S values rising only 2% YoY while the market rediscovers lightness as a virtue. Limited production (est. 8k globally, heavy UK weighting) and the end of Elise production in 2021 have cemented modern-classic status. Critically, these haven't run: S1 cars already expensive, supercharged later cars strong, but the 111R mid-spec remains underappreciated and usable daily.