Classic Cars with Good Handling
Discussion
I like cars.
(Usually) My main criteria for owning a car is good handling.
I also like classic cars. Not really old ones, the kind you can drive more than twice a year without having to do a bare shell rebuild.
I've driven a couple and been quite underwhelmed by the handling, especially compared to more modern cars. I'm not 100% convinced by some of the older suspension setups! Can anyone suggest any which would make a good regular driver, and have comparable handling (not comfort!) to newer cars. And obtainable for under say £10k.
(Usually) My main criteria for owning a car is good handling.
I also like classic cars. Not really old ones, the kind you can drive more than twice a year without having to do a bare shell rebuild.
I've driven a couple and been quite underwhelmed by the handling, especially compared to more modern cars. I'm not 100% convinced by some of the older suspension setups! Can anyone suggest any which would make a good regular driver, and have comparable handling (not comfort!) to newer cars. And obtainable for under say £10k.
Early hot hatches are probably a good bet - mk1 Golf GTi; 205 GTi, etc.
If you want something more sportscar-ish, there's things like the Lotus Excel and Porsche 944. Maybe the original Scirocco.
If you want to go 70s or earlier it gets harder. Most cars expensive enough to have IRS in those days are out of your budget so you're looking at something with a live axle. Something like an MG Midget is great fun because it has so little grip but doesn't handle well by modern standards.
If you want something more sportscar-ish, there's things like the Lotus Excel and Porsche 944. Maybe the original Scirocco.
If you want to go 70s or earlier it gets harder. Most cars expensive enough to have IRS in those days are out of your budget so you're looking at something with a live axle. Something like an MG Midget is great fun because it has so little grip but doesn't handle well by modern standards.
Edited by kambites on Saturday 30th April 22:01
How old are we talking? And how do you define "good handling".
I would suggest a Lotus excel and elans (both classic and fwd M100 models) as having good all round handling.
Maybe a well put together classic mini, although the handling is flawed in so much as great front end grip but maybe too easily unsettled by big bumps for some tastes?
Having typed all that, I take the veiw that a lot of modern stuff doesn't handle properly at all, so again with out specifics it's hard to give ideas.
I would suggest a Lotus excel and elans (both classic and fwd M100 models) as having good all round handling.
Maybe a well put together classic mini, although the handling is flawed in so much as great front end grip but maybe too easily unsettled by big bumps for some tastes?
Having typed all that, I take the veiw that a lot of modern stuff doesn't handle properly at all, so again with out specifics it's hard to give ideas.
interloper said:
How old are we talking? And how do you define "good handling".
I would suggest a Lotus excel and elans (both classic and fwd M100 models) as having good all round handling.
Maybe a well put together classic mini, although the handling is flawed in so much as great front end grip but maybe too easily unsettled by big bumps for some tastes?
Having typed all that, I take the veiw that a lot of modern stuff doesn't handle properly at all, so again with out specifics it's hard to give ideas.
I meant to write pre-1990 in my original post!I would suggest a Lotus excel and elans (both classic and fwd M100 models) as having good all round handling.
Maybe a well put together classic mini, although the handling is flawed in so much as great front end grip but maybe too easily unsettled by big bumps for some tastes?
Having typed all that, I take the veiw that a lot of modern stuff doesn't handle properly at all, so again with out specifics it's hard to give ideas.
It's hard to put an arbitrary vlue on 'good handling', so I'm happy to go with good-in-your-opinion.
I have had a couple of the cars people always suggest in these things - I had a Mk2 Golf GTI, and currently have a 205 GTI. I've also had a couple of 306 GTIs, which IMO have significantly better handling, which sort of lead me to ask the question!
veevee said:
I meant to write pre-1990 in my original post!
It's hard to put an arbitrary vlue on 'good handling', so I'm happy to go with good-in-your-opinion.
I have had a couple of the cars people always suggest in these things - I had a Mk2 Golf GTI, and currently have a 205 GTI. I've also had a couple of 306 GTIs, which IMO have significantly better handling, which sort of lead me to ask the question!
The 306 was always really highly regarded, actually a very hard act to follow. It's hard to put an arbitrary vlue on 'good handling', so I'm happy to go with good-in-your-opinion.
I have had a couple of the cars people always suggest in these things - I had a Mk2 Golf GTI, and currently have a 205 GTI. I've also had a couple of 306 GTIs, which IMO have significantly better handling, which sort of lead me to ask the question!
So I think you need to look for different /enjoyable, rather than better.
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