Modern cars with old school driving feel

[torqueofthedevil]

I have a modern car which is great but I love how old Z3s, mk1 mx5’s etc drive. Lightweight, simple, mechanical cars where you feel connected to the driving experience and not cocooned from it. I need a modernist car (say with 5 or so years old) for work but want to keep that experience of an older car.

[Tagteam]

My z3 felt a bit numb in comparison to the boxster.

[CT05 Nose Cone]

GT86/BRZ. Reminds me a lot of the mk.1 MX5 I used to have, but also with enough modern creature comforts so that you don't have to compromise.

[W211]

How much practicality do you need?

They still make caterhams, mx5s
Elises can be bought less than 5 years old

[shirt]

only driven the coupe [3.0 and m] but i didn't find it that sharp or involving. more of a bruiser in m guise.

agree on the 86/brz, a good one with the shortcomings addressed is a joy to drive. lots of well judged mods available and the base car can be had sub 10k these days so the price vs performance argument is no longer as valid.

[Zero Fuchs]

Probably get laughed at for this but a KIA Picanto 1.0 GDi GT line S. Drove one recently and other than a lack of power, was brilliant. Light, small, nimble, well balanced, half decent gear change and brilliant handling for something that's not a hot hatch (not in a million years).

It reminded me of a Pug 205 XS I owned (couldn't afford a GTi), which was also a hoot and didn't need loads of power to have fun.

I've not driven an Up GTi but would imagine the humble KIA giving one a run for the money in the old skool fun stakes.

[SturdyHSV]

As I understand it, Toyota / Subaru made a car for you, it's called the GT86 / GR86 / BR.

[BenS94]

From personal experience

VW UP GTI

Suzuki Swift Sport (2011-2017 with the revvy NA 1.6)

MG3 (really enjoying dads' 22 plate - bright yellow!)

Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ-L

Minis also get a special mention from me, with their weighty controls. You just know you're in a Mini from the way they feel.

Edited by BenS94 on Wednesday 24th May 08:25

Edited by BenS94 on Wednesday 24th May 08:27

[anonymous-user]

VW up! GTI

[spoodler]

My mate recently bought a Panda 4x4 with a rattly little twin(?) engine... Feels more "old school" than most folk would ever want... and it isn't weighted down with all the modern electronics and the like that isolate so much from the driving experience (tho' most would probably wish it was...).

[Johnnybee]

If you like the mk1 mx5 the mx5 nd has gone back to the light weight and small size.

[SweptVolume]

As an owner of a late ND MX5 and a ZC2 Swift Sport (both mentioned above), I agree they try to include the driver in the experience, but the Suzuki feels too tall to be "old school" and the Mazda has fairly numb steering, which is typical for a modern car with an electric rack.

I guess it depends what you want out of the old school experience. Is it about throttle mapping and clutch/gear control, or is it more about noise insulation and being able to hear the engine, or is it steering feel, or just a lack of nanny electronics. It could be you just want cheap plastics and a tape deck?

[s m]

BenS94 said:

From personal experience

VW UP GTI

Suzuki Swift Sport (2011-2017 with the revvy NA 1.6)

MG3 (really enjoying dads' 22 plate - bright yellow!)

Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ-L

Minis also get a special mention from me, with their weighty controls. You just know you're in a Mini from the way they feel.

Edited by BenS94 on Wednesday 24th May 08:25

Edited by BenS94 on Wednesday 24th May 08:27

I certainly thought that about the early R50/R53 at the time …… but then they’re 20 years old now

[SuperPav]

VW Up! GTI would probably be the best balance.

I agree that a Kia Picanto 1.0 has an old-school, light feel about it. But it also has a 20 year old tin car feel about it (yes I've had the joys of one for a few weeks), and it is not a pleasant place to spend time on a motorway for example.

As others have said if you want a full-bore "classic" experience in a new car, then Caterham, Morgan are your best bets.

[daveco]

Tagteam said:

My z3 felt a bit numb in comparison to the boxster.

E46 is a lot sharper, dynamics wise. In M sport and facelift they have a very quick steering rack, even more direct than the E46 M3.

[s m]

daveco said:

Tagteam said:

My z3 felt a bit numb in comparison to the boxster.

E46 is a lot sharper, dynamics wise. In M sport and facelift they have a very quick steering rack, even more direct than the E46 M3.

Although, in terms of steering rack alone, his Z3 is very likely to have had a “quicker” rack than all unless it was a Z3M.

Friend had a 2.8 Z3 and a body brace ( can’t remember the marketing name ) tightened up the drive noticeably

[InitialDave]

They're probably too old for what you want, but the Renaultsport Twingo has the proper French biscuit tin hot hatch feel to it, more so that the usual contemporaries like the Swift or Panda.

[What The Deuces]

i30n feels pretty oldschool to me but obvs with modern useability. Its a neat trick and still an underrated car I think

[Filibuster]

I really like the look of the MX-5 RF, they look incredible in the flesh.



And as others have stated correctly, GT86 / BRZ. Why the limit of 5 y.o.?
IME, the sweet spot with many generations of car is the 00's. Basically all the creature comforts and safety you could want are there, yet you still have the feeling of you driving the car, not the other way round.

[anonymous-user]

F56 mini surprisingly heavy and direct in its steering and gear changes, combined with upright screen and deft handling, they feel old school. Nissan 370z always lauded as old school.