What are the best handling front wheel drive cars ever?
Discussion
Top Trump said:
Morris Ital (OMG I can't tell you how crap that car was - one of the worst cars ever!!!!)
Brought back a fond memory from many years back! My Dad had always driven Triumphs, and then I visited one day and he had a brand new Ital! He took me for a drive and I said "Dad, this car is crap". Like all Dads he was quite cross with this. Six months later I visited again and it had gone. My Dad said: "You were right, it was crap". (Being wrong is something my father rarely admits to, so it was a sweet moment).
Top Trump said:
In fact all my dad's cars have been like this: Morris Marina, Morris Ital (OMG I can't tell you how crap that car was - one of the worst cars ever!!!!), Renault 21, Citroen ZX etc etc.
Er, I'm not going to try to convince you on the ZX's looks (yawn) or engine (it's got one, 'nuff said) but actually it handles quite well, especially if you like an er, adjustable rear end (oo er
). It's the same platform as the 306, but especially as a basically specced 1.4i in three-door guise it weighs f-all, which in comjunction with that passive rear wheel steering... I managed to spin one 
, where a contemporary Golf or Astra just would have sent me ploughing staight on no matter what. 
. >> Edited by 900T-R on Thursday 13th April 09:06
Prof Beard said:
Morris Ital (OMG I can't tell you how crap that car was - one of the worst cars ever!!!!)
Brought back a fond memory from many years back! My Dad had always driven Triumphs, and then I visited one day and he had a brand new Ital! He took me for a drive and I said "Dad, this car is crap". Like all Dads he was quite cross with this. Six months later I visited again and it had gone. My Dad said: "You were right, it was crap". (Being wrong is something my father rarely admits to, so it was a sweet moment).
Actually, I have fond memories of it (now!). Even though it was truly awful (how it ever got to production is beyond me) it was character-building!
>> Edited by Top Trump on Thursday 13th April 09:11
900T-R said:
In fact all my dad's cars have been like this: Morris Marina, Morris Ital (OMG I can't tell you how crap that car was - one of the worst cars ever!!!!), Renault 21, Citroen ZX etc etc.
Er, I'm not going to try to convince you on the ZX's looks (yawn) or engine (it's got one, 'nuff said) but actually it handles quite well, especially if you like an er, adjustable rear end (oo er
>> Edited by 900T-R on Thursday 13th April 09:06
I agree my dad's cars got progressively better. The ZX wasn't a bad mover.
Yugguy said:
I have been astounded by how well the MG ZS handles. I think it's cos it's light for its size.
Ah yes, forgot about that one. How they made it turn in like that with that V6 lump in the front, I don't know - Alfa Romeo and VAG could do worse than hiring the ex-MGR chassis engineers who accomplished this feat. I liked the ZT190, too - a bit more erm, mature, but good.
Midas Gold!! Amazing little car. Tried going round the outside of an M3 at quarry corner, Castle Combe. He dumped me on the straights but in the corners it was unreal..think of it as a lighter, lower, wider Mini, partly designed by Gordan Murray..think it was the first semi-production car with an undertray! 
A Morris Ital is RWD. Right, Top 5:
Austin Allegro 1750SS
Austin Maxi 1750HL
Nissan Sunny 1.5
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2
Vauxhall Zafira GSi
No honestly, they're all really good although I've never driven any.
Seriously though:
Sud 1200Ti - every Sud after that was a bit weighty and this Sud got lighter every time it rained. Still span it though. Good for it's time.
Renault R5 Turbo - fantastic car really and only Renault would completely change the rear axle on their top model.
Mini 1000 - brilliant car. Still span it though.
Honda Civic Type R - ace.
Golf GTi - for it's time.
Austin Allegro 1750SS
Austin Maxi 1750HL
Nissan Sunny 1.5
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2
Vauxhall Zafira GSi
No honestly, they're all really good although I've never driven any.
Seriously though:
Sud 1200Ti - every Sud after that was a bit weighty and this Sud got lighter every time it rained. Still span it though. Good for it's time.
Renault R5 Turbo - fantastic car really and only Renault would completely change the rear axle on their top model.
Mini 1000 - brilliant car. Still span it though.
Honda Civic Type R - ace.
Golf GTi - for it's time.
As a mini fan, I'm always baffled by the ammount of people who think they handle well. They grip well (brilliantly in fact, especially the last sportspack ones) & they are certainly fun, but they most certainly do not handle well, as anyone who's hit a mid corner bump at a moderate speed only to find themselves on the other side of the road, will testify.
Good FWD handlers? (not most fun or most grippy, but actually handle OTR)
Itegra Type R
Accord Type R
MG ZS 180
Puma
Pug 309 Gti
Pug 306 Gti-6
Good FWD handlers? (not most fun or most grippy, but actually handle OTR)
Itegra Type R
Accord Type R
MG ZS 180
Puma
Pug 309 Gti
Pug 306 Gti-6
robdickinson said:
How does a Fiat Coupe Turbo hold up? Just curious as a test drive had me very impressed by the handling on some twisty roads, better than some other cars I've recently driven.
Wow, there rated terrible to dangerous....
By who?
They are good but not great. From personal experience Corrado wins on handling compared to a FC. Also, my FC would corner faster than my Saxo VTR but the Saxo handling was more fun.
Forgot to say, Astra Mk 1? Are you mental? I had 3, & all were understeery bouncy rubbish when compared with the greats such as the Integra & 306 Gti.
And as for the MG ZT 190??? I hope the later ones were better (they had a suspension mod/option around 2002 IIRC), as the early ones were horrid. All grip & no handling.
And as for the MG ZT 190??? I hope the later ones were better (they had a suspension mod/option around 2002 IIRC), as the early ones were horrid. All grip & no handling.
Quick thumbs up for the 309 GTi (as this is the only one I've owned)
There is an exit off the M27 between Portsmouth and Southampton onto the A32 and it is a really tight dropping left hand 270 degree bend which ends up back under the motorway. Used to be 2 lanes but now only 1 for "safety" reasons. The 309 was the only car I've owned which could come off the motorway at 70 (ish) and get round that bend without slowing down. Surprised the sh1t out of an Audi Quattro one day when I flew past him on the bend
Oh, and also the Citroen Visa GTi - lighter and nimbler than the 205 GTi 1.6 - saved my life it did because of its handling
Paul
There is an exit off the M27 between Portsmouth and Southampton onto the A32 and it is a really tight dropping left hand 270 degree bend which ends up back under the motorway. Used to be 2 lanes but now only 1 for "safety" reasons. The 309 was the only car I've owned which could come off the motorway at 70 (ish) and get round that bend without slowing down. Surprised the sh1t out of an Audi Quattro one day when I flew past him on the bend
Oh, and also the Citroen Visa GTi - lighter and nimbler than the 205 GTi 1.6 - saved my life it did because of its handling
Paul
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