The most fun FWD cars?

Author
Discussion

Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
LordHaveMurci said:
lee_erm said:
As none cooking cars go, these are awesome fun!

My OH drives a petrol 2.0 Mk.1 - great cars & still a looker all these years later.
Agree, best handling FWD in 'non sports' format

rogerhudson

338 posts

157 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
A lot of photos of porky (big,fat) cars.
The Ur-mini set the basic standard but AustinRover/BMC/BL seemed to want to kill it off every year. Did BL ever use galvanised steel-NO, high strength steel ( like Smart)-NO, seats by Vanden Plas-NO. Hydrogas-NO.Torsen Diff-NO. Every car needs development, the mini got cosmetic nonsense, not even a hatchback.
All the technologies were there but wasted, managers and workers just said " i'm all right Jack".

s3fella

10,524 posts

186 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
doogz said:
s3fella said:
In its day 1998, the original focus, all models but the zetec model was The one I had. Changed the rules on fwd hatch handling.
Did trackdays in that (co car!) and it embarrassed lots of quick German 4wd and rwd stuff.
They handled ok for a base model hatch, but 0-60 in what, 9s, and 140 odd bhp, they can't have been embarrassing much?
59 seconds at Mallory park used to embarrass quite a lot. Fast group at trackdays no problem at all. Holding 85-90 or so around Gerrards in a stock hatch on 15 inch wheels with 185 tyres was something back in the day! 140hp, no way, they were 125 or so!! Used to hold so much corner speed and just able to throw it at corners and trailbrake it real hard into tight corners and hairpins. Early models had no ESP, and pulling the ABS fuse sorted out the braking if you were so inclined.

Compared to Escorts, Astras, Golfs, Audi's and BMWs of a similar vintage, they were light years ahead on the handling. Even Pugs that had pretty good grip, were no where near as accomplished all round for overall handling.
I'm talking 16 years ago remember!

But having a chap in his "300hp" Nissan Pulsar come over to us in the paddock at Castle Coombe and ask "what the fk have you done to that", (we've just been out, caught him, hassled him and got by him and left him in one session), and be able to reply "put some air in the tyres", was a good laugh. Not enough air was added by the way, we completely lost the word "Goodyear" on the sidewall of the tyres that day!

But Focus was a proper hatchback gamechanger IMHO back in 1998.

bubney72

1,097 posts

152 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Any front wheel drive Lancia,
Peugeot 205 Gti

Dale487

1,334 posts

122 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Sports Chassis Peugeot 106 (GTi, Rallye or Quicksilver)

lostkiwi

4,584 posts

123 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
rogerhudson said:
A lot of photos of porky (big,fat) cars.
The Ur-mini set the basic standard but AustinRover/BMC/BL seemed to want to kill it off every year. Did BL ever use galvanised steel-NO, high strength steel ( like Smart)-NO, seats by Vanden Plas-NO. Hydrogas-NO.Torsen Diff-NO. Every car needs development, the mini got cosmetic nonsense, not even a hatchback.
All the technologies were there but wasted, managers and workers just said " i'm all right Jack".
Not quite correct - they did get the early incarnation of hydrogas = Hydrolastic and there was a Vanden Plas version.

masermartin

1,629 posts

176 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
caelite said:
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 st 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
My 147 GTA has just had a Quaife diff fitted. No straight on any more, unless you're being completely stupid. And the engine, and throttle response, and noise, and driving position, and the way it feels planted on the road, make it the most fun FWD I've driven by a mile. I never fail to get out of it with a huge grin on my chops.

I seem to remember my old 405 Mi16 as fun, but not as much as this.

Limpet

6,293 posts

160 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Another vote for the Puma. Light, agile, communicative, brilliantly balanced and throttle- steerable. And one of the best manual gearchanges on any car at any price.

306 GTI does it with a nicer ride.


M1C

1,832 posts

110 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Someone's going to need to create a chart to see which car has been mentioned the most.

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
frayz said:
The most fun you can have for the money and one of my favourite FWD cars of all time. Had this little beaut fro 4 years

Image doesn't work, apart from a thin band at the top it's just a block of grey.

Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
frayz said:
The most fun you can have for the money and one of my favourite FWD cars of all time. Had this little beaut fro 4 years

Image doesn't work, apart from a thin band at the top it's just a block of grey.
It's a clio

AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
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.....
I used to drive a Mitsubishi Cordia tubo. All the above traits, plus 80's turbo lag.
Huge fun, but very hard on front tyres wink

sinbaddio

2,357 posts

175 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Citroen AX GT is my number one.
1991 Mini Cooper number two.

And surprisingly, my 1999 Mondeo 2.0 Zetec company car leaves me with many fond memories.

Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
sinbaddio said:
Citroen AX GT is my number one.
1991 Mini Cooper number two.

And surprisingly, my 1999 Mondeo 2.0 Zetec company car leaves me with many fond memories.
Indeed. For the slating that many will pour on them as being "wrong wheel drive" and rwd always being better I loved mine (1998 2.0i Ghia X Estate). Surprisingly fast, an awesome amount of grip for what it was and just nice to drive. Even with something like 120k on it I honestly preferred it to a brand spanking 318d (E90).

It could really have done with an LSD though as it was rather prone to spinning the inside wheel. biggrin

While it's no way a patch on the smaller hatches the Mondeo 2.5T is worth an honorary mention. 217hp in what is an awesome chassis, nicer to drive than anything similar, indeed the evo review reckons it's nicer than any Audi bar the RS4!

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Has anyone mentioned the Citroen Xantia Activa yet? Seems to handle remarkably well, and that V6 makes a lovely howl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG0eJY_1470

Noesph

1,148 posts

148 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
FerrousOxide said:
Another vote for the (basic spec) Alfasud. Those obsessed with power or speed need not apply.

The closest I've found for the sheer fun of "making progress" would be a 1.1 Peugeot 106... it's all about tactility, feedback and maintaining momentum. Speed is such a small part of the fun.
dannyDC2 said:
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.
I drove a poverty spec one without PAS and it was a lot of fun so I know what you're saying, but the VTS was ultimately more fun for me for sure!
My first car was a 106 independence (No power steering, or power, 3 stud wheels too). It was great fun.

Also, 666 posts. evil

Maxus

951 posts

180 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
lostkiwi said:
Iva Barchetta said:
s m said:
Draexin said:
Not a lot of love for the Fiat barchetta then?

Owned one for 7 years, it isn't necessarily the absolute best FWD car of all time, but it ticked all the boxes for me.

The handling is brilliant, sticks to the road like glue and will only let go when pushing on and lifting off.
It's very communicative, decently quick (quicker than an MX-5) and the engine has loads of character.
Loves to rev and at high rpm really snarls and roars, even with the stock exhaust.

I know looks are subjective, but to me the design is spot on. Even now it looks good, not like a typical 90's car.

They're not expensive anymore so if you haven't tried one, go for it!
User 'iva barchetta' on here enjoys his a lot
Scrolled the entire thread looking for a Barchetta mention.

I thank you....bowtie
I regularly see a Barchetta on my way to work - cool number plate on it too... F14T**
Always heard they were great FWD cars and an acquaintance had one and raved about it.
As a "fun" FWD car the Barchetta ticks a lot of boxes. Rorty engine, spritely handling and in my opinion cool looks. Sitting on the "wrong" side adds to the occasion. I loved mine.

white_goodman

4,042 posts

190 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
205 GTi is still the stand out one for me. Mine was a 1.6.
Cinquecento Sporting and mk1 Ford Ka were also brilliant. My Corrado VR6 was also very good but not as "fun" as the others just very competent.

For some reason, I didn't enjoy the Puma. I liked the look of them and test drove one and drove a friend's several times but it just felt a bit...brittle to me.

The ones I would like to try sometime are:
DC2 Integra Type R
Fiesta ST
RS Megane Trophy
Suzuki Swift Sport

They should all be good fun!

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
s3fella said:
doogz said:
s3fella said:
In its day 1998, the original focus, all models but the zetec model was The one I had. Changed the rules on fwd hatch handling.
Did trackdays in that (co car!) and it embarrassed lots of quick German 4wd and rwd stuff.
They handled ok for a base model hatch, but 0-60 in what, 9s, and 140 odd bhp, they can't have been embarrassing much?
59 seconds at Mallory park used to embarrass quite a lot. Fast group at trackdays no problem at all. Holding 85-90 or so around Gerrards in a stock hatch on 15 inch wheels with 185 tyres was something back in the day! 140hp, no way, they were 125 or so!! Used to hold so much corner speed and just able to throw it at corners and trailbrake it real hard into tight corners and hairpins. Early models had no ESP, and pulling the ABS fuse sorted out the braking if you were so inclined.

Compared to Escorts, Astras, Golfs, Audi's and BMWs of a similar vintage, they were light years ahead on the handling. Even Pugs that had pretty good grip, were no where near as accomplished all round for overall handling.
I'm talking 16 years ago remember!

But having a chap in his "300hp" Nissan Pulsar come over to us in the paddock at Castle Coombe and ask "what the fk have you done to that", (we've just been out, caught him, hassled him and got by him and left him in one session), and be able to reply "put some air in the tyres", was a good laugh. Not enough air was added by the way, we completely lost the word "Goodyear" on the sidewall of the tyres that day!

But Focus was a proper hatchback gamechanger IMHO back in 1998.
A contender for the "Are 90s performance cars still quick thread"! Also the "Are 90s performance cars' drivers still quick" thread...

Stickyfinger

8,429 posts

104 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
Has anyone mentioned the Citroen Xantia Activa yet? Seems to handle remarkably well, and that V6 makes a lovely howl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG0eJY_1470
Nope, because if you ain't "done" one you don't believe.