Ginetta G40 MPG & running costs

Purchasing what is fundamentally a race car for the road is not a practical decision but, for what it’s worth, the G40R requires fewer compromises than, say, a Caterham. An enclosed cabin, usable boot and Mazda’s proven powertrain all work in Ginetta’s favour. As do the low-volume production numbers, which should help to ensure exclusivity and strong used values.

Nevertheless, a host of factors may have you thinking twice about the prospect of Ginetta ownership. Not least among them is the fact that its starting price is marginally higher than that of the current Lotus Elise, which also improves on the G40R’s fuel economy (45mpg compared with 29mpg) and its emissions (149g/km versus 181g/km). Hethel has also had 15 years to improve on perceived quality, which could conceivably be an issue for Ginetta for some time to come.

Predictably, given the drive to reduce weight, much of the equipment fitted to our test car was from the options list, but a heated windscreen and push-button start feature as standard. Air-con is affordable, but metallic paint or Ginetta livery are alarmingly pricey.

However, incarcerated inside its FIA-approved roll cage atop those unadorned bucket seats, it’s clear that Ginetta is pursuing a hardcore niche audience that is likely to disregard such shortcomings in return for an engagingly raw driving experience.