The most fun FWD cars?

[300bhp/ton]

Doesn't have to be the fastest, or the best handling, or even the best looking. But what would you claim as the most fun and rewarding FWD cars?


Would a Mini Cooper still be in the runnings, or is it well and truly beat from a thrills point of view?

[kambites]

For me the Mini will never be much fun because I'd have to chop my feet off to drive it more than a few miles.

[S10GTA]

306 GTI-6/Xsara VTS

[Blanchimont]

Integra Type R is highly regarded.

Focus RS is supposed to be good.

[JonoG81]

• prepares flame suit*

Personal opinion but the Mk1 Focus RS is one of the most involving, fun fwd cars I have ever driven ( slightly biased as I own one I know).

Another is the DC2 Integra Type R, borrowed a friends whilst my car was in for an mot, and was shocked at how well it held the road ( not being my car I didn't push it as much as I would my own), but felt planted and secure around corners at any speed.

Edit: Post above beat me to it!!!

[lostkiwi]

I'd go with a Cooper S even though I'm over 6ft tall and of the powerfully built PH director dimensions.

Many years ago I used to race them and it was just pure adrenaline.

[Wizardskills]

An Abarth 500 EsseEsse with the factory Koni suspension upgrade is huge amounts of fun.

[LordHaveMurci]

A Clio has to be in there somewhere. Fiat Coupe?

[Krikkit]

Clio 182 Trophy, Peugeot 106 GTI/Rallye, 205 GTI, Fiesta ST (2013-), Integra Type R DC2. I'm sure there's more, but I find the smaller ones more fun.

[David87]

For me, it is the Clio 182 Trophy.

[rossub]

Civic Type R FD2

[toon10]

I'm not going to claim this is THE most fun FWD car but the 1.7 Puma ticked all the fun boxes around the Lake District roads.

[JonoG81]

toon10 said:

I'm not going to claim this is THE most fun FWD car but the 1.7 Puma ticked all the fun boxes around the Lake District roads.

I have heard a few people mention that these are more fun than most people think.

Never owned one, but it is an itch I wouldn't mind scratching some day

[TREMAiNE]

Clio 1*2's
ITR's

[scherzkeks]

My old Acura (Honda) Integra GSR ranked up there for me.

[RobM77]

For me personally, I find a short wheelbase and a decent chassis setup to be the best things to overcome FWD's natural disadvantages over RWD - both create instability to give adjustability, with the inherent safety net that FWD always has negating any worries of the instability becoming too much. The 106 GTi is probably my favourite road going FWD car of the ones I've tried. I also adored my Citroen AX GT and the various 205s that I've driven (though sadly I never drove a GTi). My wife's CTR FN2 is good, but sadly the cantankerous assisted controls ruin the experience for both of us.

It's worth mentioning that FWD racing cars are a breed apart from road cars, moreso than RWD cars, which take to racing much more naturally. My full race spec MG Metro that I raced for 5 years had simply wonderful fingertip handling, particularly at high speeds, as the result of a lot of hard work and research on finding a good setup.

[toon10]

JonoG81 said:

I have heard a few people mention that these are more fun than most people think.

Never owned one, but it is an itch I wouldn't mind scratching some day

I borrows my ex father in laws for a weekend away as my car broke down. I dismissed it as girly and just a Fiesta with a sleeker body. It was an awsome little thing. Just enough power for the weight of the car, kart like handling, slick and precise gear change and good steering. It kept much quicker machines honest on decent roads.

[ZiggyNiva]

Lotus elan?

[Leins]

Frequently dismissed, but I'm a big fan of the R53 Minis. Supercharger whine is addictive, and the speed these things can carry over B-roads is impressive. Love driving mine

[supertouring]

My Megane R26R is great fun to drive.