Best handling 'ordinary' cars?

[Tmrtom]

I passed an old Peugeot 106 the other day, the first I'd seen in ages, and I remembered fondly how well they handled (my first two cars were a 1.1 XN and a 1.4 Quiksilver).

Anyway, it got me thinking: what are the best handling ordinary cars that you've driven? I don't mean sports variants like hot hatches or M cars, just standard hatches, saloons and estates etc.

Obviously my vote is for the 106 (and 306 too come to think of it!).

[itcaptainslow]

The Mk1 Focus gets my vote. Absolutely revolutionary in terms of dynamics. Even the basic 1.4 was a joy to drive.

[Huff]

Issigonis' Mini, before the rush.

The singular most educational, how to do more with less, and engaging little thing. Proof too, that more power isn't remotely an essential to total driver engagement.

[kambites]

itcaptainslow said:

The Mk1 Focus gets my vote. Absolutely revolutionary in terms of dynamics. Even the basic 1.4 was a joy to drive.

The mk1 Focus was good, but I think it seemed even better than it was because its immediate predecessor was so awful. I'm not convinced it was any better than, for example, the Peugeot 306.

The original Ka had a very good chassis, too.

[sideways man]

I’ve not driven one, but the Alfasud always had fabulous reviews.
Stuff I’ve driven; mk1 focus and original mini are standouts.

[Hoofy]

Define "handling"?

[dvshannow]

Very vague … older BMW 3 series lived up to their stereotype

[kambites]

dvshannow said:

Very vague … older BMW 3 series lived up to their stereotype

One of my friends (and lodgers) had an E36 323i for a while and it was... awful. Fun, but amusingly awful. I suspect there was something wrong with it but it was comically oversteery even at moderate speed. You could drift it at walking pace.

[Dave.]

Hoofy said:

Define "handling"?

DannyDC2 did a video on "handling", quite amusing.

https://youtu.be/1M4jkbP90bs

[MrGTI6]

Another vote for the Peugeot 306! I happened to buy one as a stopgap about eight years ago. It was a revelation and I haven't been without one since!

[kambites]

MrGTI6 said:

Another vote for the Peugeot 306!!

One of the last really good looking C-segment hatches too, to my eyes.

[Krikkit]

kambites said:

itcaptainslow said:

The Mk1 Focus gets my vote. Absolutely revolutionary in terms of dynamics. Even the basic 1.4 was a joy to drive.

The mk1 Focus was good, but I think it seemed even better than it was because its immediate predecessor was so awful. I'm not convinced it was any better than, for example, the Peugeot 306.

The original Ka had a very good chassis, too.

The 306 also had a fabulous chassis, so it was among good company.

The Ka, Fiesta, Puma and Focus all around that time were revolutionary because even fairly normal versions drove really well.

[deadscoob]

kambites said:

itcaptainslow said:

The Mk1 Focus gets my vote. Absolutely revolutionary in terms of dynamics. Even the basic 1.4 was a joy to drive.

The mk1 Focus was good, but I think it seemed even better than it was because its immediate predecessor was so awful. I'm not convinced it was any better than, for example, the Peugeot 306.

The original Ka had a very good chassis, too.

Original Ka for sure. Funny looking thing that handled fantastically.

[kambites]

deadscoob said:

Original Ka for sure. Funny looking thing that handled fantastically.

Awful driving position and utterly hateful engine though. Although the (Zetec?) 1.6 in the SportKa wasn't bad.

[Tmrtom]

Seems like all 90s and early 00s cars!

[kambites]

Tmrtom said:

Seems like all 90s and early 00s cars!

I suspect that says more about the age of most of the posters than anything.

[Hoofy]

Dave. said:

Hoofy said:

Define "handling"?

DannyDC2 did a video on "handling", quite amusing.

https://youtu.be/1M4jkbP90bs

Sums it up nicely from what I watched.

My old Volvo S60 was pretty decent round corners even when it got bumpy.

[AndyD360]

Peugeot were just great at the time.

OH had a 106 Rallye (mk2) and I had a GTI6. Always remember going home to see my parents and Mum being pleased I’d bought a sensible car (had a Fiat Coupe prior). She had no idea…

[exelero]

Mk4 Mondeo. It handles very well for a almost 5 metre long saloon

[Foss62]

kambites said:

Tmrtom said:

Seems like all 90s and early 00s cars!

I suspect that says more about the age of most of the posters than anything.

Or that after that cars steadily got larger and heavier, with larger wheels and wide low profile tyres?