What has been the best handling car you've owned?
Discussion
Bonefish Blues said:
braddo said:
Are they going around Castle Combe the opposite way in those photos?
Great read as ever, s m.
Yes, I was disorientated too (or I might have spun again, who knows?)Great read as ever, s m.
s m said:
CAR magazine were a big fan of the Impreza in the late 90s - 98 Handling Day
They were keen to make the distinction that it wasn’t all about the grip
Car magazine memorably picked the imprezza over integrale and escort cosworth after a thrash round rough Irish roads. I remember them presiding its ride/handling/grip compromise over the othersThey were keen to make the distinction that it wasn’t all about the grip
SSO said:
The F50 has to be the best handling car Ferrari has ever produced. The steering feedback and gearbox are outstanding.
Maybe but the F40 from 10years earlier is as quick if not quicker so to me the F50 was the biggest disappointment after all that time for development. F40 is the one to have (now fight me)F1BHP said:
SSO said:
The F50 has to be the best handling car Ferrari has ever produced. The steering feedback and gearbox are outstanding.
Maybe but the F40 from 10years earlier is as quick if not quicker so to me the F50 was the biggest disappointment after all that time for development. F40 is the one to have (now fight me)I wrote an article comparing the two not too long ago that on our site.
By coincidence here is a fantastic video from Japan, which was posted on another thread and which I watched today, of a race around Suzuka featuring a F50, F40, Diablo and a few Porsches (993 GT2, 996 GT3, tuned 993 Turbo) and others.
https://youtu.be/lYjxFIyO0QQ
I admire the F50 a hell of lot more than I did this morning! I can well believe SSO's conclusion.
https://youtu.be/lYjxFIyO0QQ
I admire the F50 a hell of lot more than I did this morning! I can well believe SSO's conclusion.
SSO said:
I've owned both and put a lot of miles on each. Steering and gearbox are definitely better on the F50 than F40. F40 feels faster once the turbo kick in and rearrange your brain cells but F50 is faster around a track. Brakes on both require quite a bit of bravery. V12 in the F50 is a work of art and nothing comes close to sounding like it.
I wrote an article comparing the two not too long ago that on our site.
Ok you have owned both. That makes you the automatic winner of the fight.I wrote an article comparing the two not too long ago that on our site.
For me regardless it was always the F40 that won my heart. Not sure why.
That article from the year 2000 handling day made me think how much the BMW Z8 has appreciated in value. If I remember correctly journalists weren't all that blown away by it when it was new...but now look at its price!
I loved the Impreza P1 back then.
I never really understood the Racing Puma(not then and still not now), but it does seem that anyone who has driven it has loved it in fairness.
I loved the Impreza P1 back then.
I never really understood the Racing Puma(not then and still not now), but it does seem that anyone who has driven it has loved it in fairness.
cerb4.5lee said:
That article from the year 2000 handling day made me think how much the BMW Z8 has appreciated in value. If I remember correctly journalists weren't all that blown away by it when it was new...but now look at its price!
I loved the Impreza P1 back then.
I never really understood the Racing Puma(not then and still not now), but it does seem that anyone who has driven it has loved it in fairness.
Yes, according to the write-up the Z8 was the biggest disappointment of the dayI loved the Impreza P1 back then.
I never really understood the Racing Puma(not then and still not now), but it does seem that anyone who has driven it has loved it in fairness.
The P1 was a WR variant - especially loved the brakes
Loaded question. You need to define handling first and that an argument in itself
Personally it’s all about controllability, once you know your cars limits it’s how easy it is get close to or on those limits without going over them.
Always thought a well setup s2000 was right up there if your brave enough but for sheer enjoyment I prefer my omega, it’s a much blunter instrument but it’s a lot more forgiving and you could hold it sideways as long as you like.
From a fwd Perspective I’ve always rated the mk1 focus
If you never drove one in good fettle you’ve missed a completely underrated car.
That said it’s a personal thing. I actually think the new f40 1 series handles really well having spent a couple of weeks with one although I’d love to try a non msport oversized wheel model to see what that chassis is really capable of
Personally it’s all about controllability, once you know your cars limits it’s how easy it is get close to or on those limits without going over them.
Always thought a well setup s2000 was right up there if your brave enough but for sheer enjoyment I prefer my omega, it’s a much blunter instrument but it’s a lot more forgiving and you could hold it sideways as long as you like.
From a fwd Perspective I’ve always rated the mk1 focus
If you never drove one in good fettle you’ve missed a completely underrated car.
That said it’s a personal thing. I actually think the new f40 1 series handles really well having spent a couple of weeks with one although I’d love to try a non msport oversized wheel model to see what that chassis is really capable of
997 C4S was epic, the 4S has wider tired and 50kg of diff over the front allegedly improved the ‘light’ 997 front end. You could only get the back out in that car if you made a real effort and only then on a wet road and even then was easy to control it was such a sweet handling car.
s m said:
Yes, according to the write-up the Z8 was the biggest disappointment of the day
The P1 was a WR variant - especially loved the brakes
I’ve just never seen the appeal of a Z8, even the Alpina/Ronan Keating version. All that separates it from a Lexus SC430 for me is a slightly more retro lookThe P1 was a WR variant - especially loved the brakes
The RS4 doesn’t come out too well on that verdict either though, although I’m not surprised as I’d have very little interest in ever tracking it. Fast A-roads and motorways are its natural domain
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