The most fun FWD cars?
Discussion
Another vote for the Alfasud in 'saloon' or hatch form, but not the Sprint coupe. I've had loads of Suds and in many ways the most fun were the narrow tyred base models rather than the Ti variants. The Tipo 16V gets an honorable mention too, I loved mine and would have another if I could find a good one - has to be the 5dr though, the later 3drs were detuned slightly and a bit softer.
BarbaricAvatar said:
Specifically a 1.0 model because it teaches you all about maintaining momentum and planning ahead. And how much of a giggle (up)hills are when there are 2+ of you in the car.
Mk1 Focus RS, I have one it is a complete animal on a twisty road and boy it just keeps on gripping in the dry, it forgives you when you over do it and rewards you when you get it right, a car that begs to be driven hard!
DC5 integra Type R, My mate used to have one, it was stripped out and tuned to about 260BHP and it absolutely flew, great car, If I wasn't a ford man I'd have had one too!
DC2 Integra Type R, years ago I was over taken by one while driving a tractor on a foggy day and the way that thing disappeared around a series of corners was spectacular looked like great fun, I can still remember seeing the fog light disappear into the distance!
I don't think there is much that can trump these three for sheer cross country twisty road pace!
DC5 integra Type R, My mate used to have one, it was stripped out and tuned to about 260BHP and it absolutely flew, great car, If I wasn't a ford man I'd have had one too!
DC2 Integra Type R, years ago I was over taken by one while driving a tractor on a foggy day and the way that thing disappeared around a series of corners was spectacular looked like great fun, I can still remember seeing the fog light disappear into the distance!
I don't think there is much that can trump these three for sheer cross country twisty road pace!
My 1993 1.1 LX was similar to that!
However...despite having it for 2 years and 50k miles...I don't remember it driving well....
So slow.....soooo rattly...
I did like the solid interior and plush velour seats but it didn't have a great deal more going for it! Although to be fair..it did keep going, despite rusting away by the day and going through tankerloads of oil!
However...despite having it for 2 years and 50k miles...I don't remember it driving well....
So slow.....soooo rattly...
I did like the solid interior and plush velour seats but it didn't have a great deal more going for it! Although to be fair..it did keep going, despite rusting away by the day and going through tankerloads of oil!
drivingaddict said:
Don't have much experience, but my 92 Mk2 CRX 1.6 (124HP) was absolutely amazing on B-roads.
It was ridiculously nimble too, on par with my MX-5. It actually weighed less than my MX-5 (860 kg. for the CRX) and had a 10x more exciting exciting engine than the MX-5 as well (my old MX-5 was a 1.6 with 110 hp methinks, I hated that engine because it always left me wanting more and I never once felt that in the CRX).
Funny thing is that people say RWD is potentially dangerous for an inexperienced driver, however I've driven RWD all my life and to me driving a FWD car fast felt a lot more risky (because in the RWD you can save your ass and in the FWD you're driving right off the corner if you make a big mistake)
I disagree. If you enter a corner far too fast in any car it's game over. You can't sort it out unless you've got a bit of grip left for light braking, otherwise the car will slide and run wide.It was ridiculously nimble too, on par with my MX-5. It actually weighed less than my MX-5 (860 kg. for the CRX) and had a 10x more exciting exciting engine than the MX-5 as well (my old MX-5 was a 1.6 with 110 hp methinks, I hated that engine because it always left me wanting more and I never once felt that in the CRX).
Funny thing is that people say RWD is potentially dangerous for an inexperienced driver, however I've driven RWD all my life and to me driving a FWD car fast felt a lot more risky (because in the RWD you can save your ass and in the FWD you're driving right off the corner if you make a big mistake)
MRobbins1987 said:
The fn2 is good in the sense that it likes revs and you need to work to extract the performance it's just a shame that its more biased to understeer than the ep3 which allows the rear to come into play. They can be made good though and the later ones with lsd and champ white version certainly prove this.
Agreed, that's my number one gripe with it actually, which is what I meant when I said it could be great with a few mods. A lot of people seem to swear by the "fast road setup", although its over £400 if you get the recommended Eibach progressive springs, however, if it does what I think it will, then it should sort the handling right out.... its not such an issue when hooning though, but lift off oversteer is almost impossible in standard form. The other issue I have is the brakes which just don't feel quite good enough. Mine has a Flashpro on it to give a bit more power throughout the rev range as well as lowering the VTEC point and increasing the limit, which makes it feel a fair bit stronger on the road. Definitely got potential but not perfect out of the box. Can't make my mind up whether to spend the money on it or just sell up and get an S2000 ?anarki said:
Whole heartedly agree with people mentioning the puma.
Fantastic car in standard 1.7 guise, can't comment on the racing puma although I imagine it's as good if not better.
The standard car is let down, not by its handling but rather it's brakes, aluminium gear knob (not the gearbox) which on a hot day, is akin to pouring scolding water into your palms and a general attraction to rust in the arch area.
Almost forgot the steering wheel trim/stitching - which seemed to be have been stitched by a ham fisted amputee using spit as glue and rice paper as nylon.
Amazing engine, gearbox and chassis massively outshine those minor quality issues, I need another puma.
I'm glad you brought the brakes up and gear knob up! Along with the noise, stereo and driving position they are weak spots of the fast Fiesta Zetec S/Puma. All the controls feel good from steering to gear-shift, and they handle well. I don't know what you mean by the wheel stitching quality, as every one I've seen is plastic?! However the colour on the Fiesta Zetec S wheels rubs off and they turn black over time.Fantastic car in standard 1.7 guise, can't comment on the racing puma although I imagine it's as good if not better.
The standard car is let down, not by its handling but rather it's brakes, aluminium gear knob (not the gearbox) which on a hot day, is akin to pouring scolding water into your palms and a general attraction to rust in the arch area.
Almost forgot the steering wheel trim/stitching - which seemed to be have been stitched by a ham fisted amputee using spit as glue and rice paper as nylon.
Amazing engine, gearbox and chassis massively outshine those minor quality issues, I need another puma.
Loved my 106 gti back in the day when they were still new and worked, likewise my Clio 182 both great cars I had for quite a long time and miss.
Despite currently having 3 rwd cars currently I'm not a rwd fan, I'm prob quicker on most roads in this countries wet weather in a fwd car but in my opinion the car companies make more interesting rwd cars than fwd.
Despite currently having 3 rwd cars currently I'm not a rwd fan, I'm prob quicker on most roads in this countries wet weather in a fwd car but in my opinion the car companies make more interesting rwd cars than fwd.
t you not.
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.....
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.....
Think I'd have to go with the classic Mini in any form, not necessary to have a Cooper to have fun. I drove plenty of miles in a fairly well used Mk 1 850 and it was great fun - maybe the remould crossplies helped!
The Alfasud was also a great car to drive, would love to try one again and see what they are like to drive now. It probably wouldn't feel quick but I suspect would still be full of feel with a really responsive engine and chassis.
The Fiat Coupe 20VT as mentioned is good to drive but I wouldn't put it as the most fun, but I do love mine even after driving it over 160K miles.
The Alfasud was also a great car to drive, would love to try one again and see what they are like to drive now. It probably wouldn't feel quick but I suspect would still be full of feel with a really responsive engine and chassis.
The Fiat Coupe 20VT as mentioned is good to drive but I wouldn't put it as the most fun, but I do love mine even after driving it over 160K miles.
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.
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.
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