The most fun FWD cars?
Discussion
AnotherClarkey said:
dannyDC2 said:
DC2 for me, obviously, but I don't think it would be the most fun for everyone.
Saxo VTS is a close second followed by the Primera GT.
I found the handling of the 'lesser' Saxos with narrow tyres was more fun than that of the VTR or VTS.Saxo VTS is a close second followed by the Primera GT.
Yep, kinda hard to disagree with that.
It's not the king of them all, but the boggo 1.6 Mk1 Focus had the kind of handling and steering feel that was quite exceptional for it's time, and even today, will knock some seriously expensive bits of kit into a cocked hat - in terms of those parameters anyway.
It's not the king of them all, but the boggo 1.6 Mk1 Focus had the kind of handling and steering feel that was quite exceptional for it's time, and even today, will knock some seriously expensive bits of kit into a cocked hat - in terms of those parameters anyway.
The most fun cars I have driven have always been on the dinky side. It's like the bigger the car, the less fun it is. The fact so many people like the Mini seems to support this.
I traded in my Laguna GT for an Ibiza Sportrider recently. The Ibiza is much slower, but so much more fun to rag around.
I know the R53 is obviously a nicer place to sit, and dynamically it's a better car, and in supercharged trim a lot faster. But it's also bigger, wider and heavier. So would it dilute the thrill compared to a sub 700kg Mini with no power assistance?Not driven an old Mini, but I can confirm a Metro Turbo is way more fun than an R56 MINI if that helps 
I traded in my Laguna GT for an Ibiza Sportrider recently. The Ibiza is much slower, but so much more fun to rag around.
300bhp/ton said:
Leins said:
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
I do like these, although I wonder if they would actually be more 'fun' than a classic Mini?I know the R53 is obviously a nicer place to sit, and dynamically it's a better car, and in supercharged trim a lot faster. But it's also bigger, wider and heavier. So would it dilute the thrill compared to a sub 700kg Mini with no power assistance?
We have an F56 MINI Cooper S and whilst its fun its not a patch on the levels of fun of the original 1965 1275 Cooper S that I had in the late 70s.
The new one misses the sheer chuck it in at any speed raw feel of the original.
The F56 isn't even as much fun as the R56 it replaced. It got bigger and more grown up and civilised in the latest incarnation and it removed some of the rawness and fun in the process.
The new one misses the sheer chuck it in at any speed raw feel of the original.
The F56 isn't even as much fun as the R56 it replaced. It got bigger and more grown up and civilised in the latest incarnation and it removed some of the rawness and fun in the process.
'87 to 93 (ish) Saab 900 T16 anyone?
I've had a few and all were a lot of fun - not necessarily the best handling, but the turbo lag was amusing and the last one I had was fitted with an Abbott Racing exhaust, so it sounded great too. Flat out it sounded like a racing car, and at start up or pootling along the burble was deep and slightly menacing... that for me put a smile on my face everytime I took it out...
I've had a few and all were a lot of fun - not necessarily the best handling, but the turbo lag was amusing and the last one I had was fitted with an Abbott Racing exhaust, so it sounded great too. Flat out it sounded like a racing car, and at start up or pootling along the burble was deep and slightly menacing... that for me put a smile on my face everytime I took it out...
pjksutherland said:
'87 to 93 (ish) Saab 900 T16 anyone?
I've had a few and all were a lot of fun - not necessarily the best handling, but the turbo lag was amusing and the last one I had was fitted with an Abbott Racing exhaust, so it sounded great too. Flat out it sounded like a racing car, and at start up or pootling along the burble was deep and slightly menacing... that for me put a smile on my face everytime I took it out...
They were indeed good fun. I had a good go in an 87 T16S many years ago when me and my friend 'borrowed' his mum's 900 and his dad's Supra and went for a, let call it 'rapid', lap of Chew Valley Lake and surrounds. Still reckon they're good lookers now, but haven't driven one for about 20 years.I've had a few and all were a lot of fun - not necessarily the best handling, but the turbo lag was amusing and the last one I had was fitted with an Abbott Racing exhaust, so it sounded great too. Flat out it sounded like a racing car, and at start up or pootling along the burble was deep and slightly menacing... that for me put a smile on my face everytime I took it out...
PomBstard said:
pjksutherland said:
'87 to 93 (ish) Saab 900 T16 anyone?
I've had a few and all were a lot of fun - not necessarily the best handling, but the turbo lag was amusing and the last one I had was fitted with an Abbott Racing exhaust, so it sounded great too. Flat out it sounded like a racing car, and at start up or pootling along the burble was deep and slightly menacing... that for me put a smile on my face everytime I took it out...
They were indeed good fun. I had a good go in an 87 T16S many years ago when me and my friend 'borrowed' his mum's 900 and his dad's Supra and went for a, let call it 'rapid', lap of Chew Valley Lake and surrounds. Still reckon they're good lookers now, but haven't driven one for about 20 years.I've had a few and all were a lot of fun - not necessarily the best handling, but the turbo lag was amusing and the last one I had was fitted with an Abbott Racing exhaust, so it sounded great too. Flat out it sounded like a racing car, and at start up or pootling along the burble was deep and slightly menacing... that for me put a smile on my face everytime I took it out...
How about a Saab 9-3 Viggen? I bet that's a laugh.
"A car with such outstanding torque-steer that it's possible to go from one side of the road to the other without touching the steering wheel".
225 turbocharged horsies through the front wheels only, and it didn't get Traction Control until after it had been on sale for 2 years, that's got to be entertaining (though perhaps for the wrong reasons).
rtz62 said:
I'm going to throw my hat into the ring with the Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 24V
Why?
Well any car that can change direction in a straight line by simply flooring the loud pedal has to be near the top of this list.
And any car that, when, negotiating a corner, with the same injudicious prodding of the loud pedal goes straight on, surely has to be the best handling FWD in a comedy sense.
So, rewarding? Er, no.
But fun? Oh yes, in a homicidal maniac sort of way.....
Haha Ive sat in my mates GTV V6 3.0 as he took it for a "spirited" drive and noted the same thing. Holy sWhy?
Well any car that can change direction in a straight line by simply flooring the loud pedal has to be near the top of this list.
And any car that, when, negotiating a corner, with the same injudicious prodding of the loud pedal goes straight on, surely has to be the best handling FWD in a comedy sense.
So, rewarding? Er, no.
But fun? Oh yes, in a homicidal maniac sort of way.....
t exiting corners with the loud pedel fully depressed the steering wheel may aswell have been detatched from the drive wheels since it was going in ONE direction xD.My old Fabia VRS was the same but it also felt a bit like it was going to tip over at the same time
Edited by caelite on Friday 2nd October 05:19
LordHaveMurci said:
Tickle said:
Not driven but I would imagine very good
Lotus Elan M100
I think the problem with the Elan was it wasn't particularly fun to drive, it was too competent. Been a long time since I've driven one so hard to have a personal opinion but it doesn't stand out in my memory.Lotus Elan M100
The Elan WAS fun to drive. What it wasn't was exciting in the sense of "I'm about to die because I screwed up".
To put it into Top Gear terms, Jeremy Clarkson would have disliked it but The Stig would have found it a very good car.
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