The most fun FWD cars?

[Leins]

supertouring said:

My Megane R26R is great fun to drive.

I really must try and drive one of these at some point. I see you also have an E46 M3, which I suspect would struggle on certain roads to keep up with the Renault?

[s m]

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

Yes, very much enjoyed mine, late 55-reg, also mentions for Saxo VTS, Astra GTE 16v and 309 Gti. Also the old 5GT turbo

[MRobbins1987]

The 205 gti is miles ahead of any other fwd car I've driven, I'm sure more modern machines carry far greater pace through the corners but I doubt they will feel as alive. I've got an fn2 currently and it's poor in comparison.

Really need a drive in a 182 trophy, dc2 and new st as they are supposed to be fantastic, weight no doubt plays the biggest part in their brilliance. The majority of the larger hatches are too heavy for my liking.

[300bhp/ton]

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?

[cianha]

[vtecyo]

JDM 98 Spec Integra DC2 (96 also but 98 is the one to get)
Civic FD2-RR
Civic FD2-R
Civic EK9
Integra DC5

The EP3 is actually a bit crap until you put a LSD in it. JDM cars come with them as standard, and a bit more power. Much better.

[rohrl]

The 205 Gti was great fun because it was "twitchy". Lift-off oversteer was not hard to provoke in a way which I doubt would be allowed by manufacturers today.

I haven't driven one but the Clio Williams has a great reputation.

[MRobbins1987]

The swift sport deserves a mention, despite its lack of grunt they are great fun.

[Uncle John]

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?

I did a day at Brands Hatch in mine and there were only a handful of cars faster, you simply do not have to slow down for the corners!!!! Great fun.

[Leins]

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?

I can't fit in the classic Mini so have no real way to confirm myself, but suspect you're probably correct

However, of all the FWD cars I've sampled in the last 10 years, it's the R53 that puts the biggest smile on my face, which is why I bought one. It does have a few inherent issues though, but none which gets in the way of having fun

[MikeT66]

toon10 said:

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.

Of course I'm biased, but it's only when I drive another car that I realise how well the Puma drives and handles - a brilliant balance of power, performance, driving fun and poise - on the daily slog to work you forget what it can do.

I drove up to Darlington for the Croft Historic race meet in the summer, and took the Puma on the B-roads to Hawes, then over the Dales to the north-east. Just picking the apexes and finding the perfect gear through the sublime transmission on those winding gorgeous roads was a fantastic driving experience - all without breaking into stupid high-speed licence-losing territory.

[Fastdruid]

JonoG81 said:

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.

+1

Quite a few years a go my gf had one, "only" a 1.4 but that just meant it could be driven flat out everywhere. Awesome fun little car.

I did drive the 1.7 a few times and that was even better. The only issue with them if I had to be picky was the brakes.

[pti]

Ford Ka

Horrible wheezy little engine but a bloody good chassis and very chuckable.

[JB!]

Mine wasn't standard, but I loved my 2001 Ibiza Cupra. Hugely tuneable 20vt, and the chassis was ace once polybushed & poly engine mounted.

[Wild Rumpus]

The Peugeot 205XS was even better than the 205Gti, the lighter 1360cc alloy engine helped, I think. The original Ford Focus was also excellent in 1.6 petrol trim.

[FD3Si]

kambites said:

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.

Have a slight shunt in one and it'll likely do that for you. Problem solved.

[bodhi]

Fiat Cinquecento Sporting.

Don't mock them til you've tried one

[GTIAlex]

[rb5er]

Racing Puma and mk1 focus RS are great fun.

The mk5 fiesta zetec-s as the puma is a great car to chuck about too.

[monkeyzinho]

MikeT66 said:

toon10 said:

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.

Of course I'm biased, but it's only when I drive another car that I realise how well the Puma drives and handles - a brilliant balance of power, performance, driving fun and poise - on the daily slog to work you forget what it can do.

I drove up to Darlington for the Croft Historic race meet in the summer, and took the Puma on the B-roads to Hawes, then over the Dales to the north-east. Just picking the apexes and finding the perfect gear through the sublime transmission on those winding gorgeous roads was a fantastic driving experience - all without breaking into stupid high-speed licence-losing territory.

I've had two 1.7 Pumas and they really were brilliant, seemingly never ending grip and lots of torque through the range. My current car is a Mk5 Fiesta Zetec-S, the engine is the 1.6 version so slightly less power but it's also significantly lighter (around 100kg IIRC) on the same chassis, it is also great fun just like the Pumas.