The Most Fun Cars To Drive ?
Discussion
15k would get a superb TVRMost fun car i had was a Fiat Croma Turbo i.e, bright red with the chunky colour coded body kit & headling washers that didn't work, it screamed "I'M THE TURBO VERSION!!" Full orange velour interior. Car was about £400 at the time.
Punchy whistling turbo motor, rattly interior loads of 80's gauges & lcd display that didnt work, loads of feedback through the steering wheel and it felt light on its toes for a big motor.
Most fun car ive ever had and used to start first time everytime!
I'd have another but rust has probably killed them all, killed mine 7 years ago.
Punchy whistling turbo motor, rattly interior loads of 80's gauges & lcd display that didnt work, loads of feedback through the steering wheel and it felt light on its toes for a big motor.
Most fun car ive ever had and used to start first time everytime!
I'd have another but rust has probably killed them all, killed mine 7 years ago.
The most fun cars I've driven personally would be MX5, DC2 ITR, Golf Mk2 GTI, Puma, MR2 Mk3, Saxo VTR/S.
Cars I've not driven, but I'd imagine to be lots of fun: 205 GTI, 306 GTI, Caterham, Elise, TVR, Clio Cup, MR2 Mk1, MR2 Turbo, Westfield or other kit cars etc...
Basically, what I think makes cars fun is mainly down to the handling, light weight and rawness of it. How it makes you feel in general. For me, rear drive is better than front drive for fun, and the lighter and rawer it is the more involved you feel. Open top are for me more fun than tin tops because you feel more exposed, can see more, hear more, smell more. NA is generally better than Turbo IMO as it takes more effort to drive quickly, so is more rewarding when you get it right. Stuff like excellent throttle response and good gearchange is also important, as is the driving position. Sports car seem to excel here over more compromised machines.
I think cars I would find the most fun would be stuff like Caterhams, as they're very raw. Elise is probably the next best thing, with the likes of the Mk1 MX5 or MR2 not too far behind. TVRs and other big muscle car types would not be far behind, the noise they make alone would make driving fun regardless of the speed of attack.
For me, after years of driving FWD cars, they feel too ordinary, too normal, not special enough. To me, when I drive a modern hot hatch, it just feels like the mundane car it was based on, only with more grip, stiffer suspension, bigger brakes and more power. These cars simply cannot offer you the same thrills as a good purpose built sports car. At least the old stuff was light and raw and felt sporty.
Cars I've not driven, but I'd imagine to be lots of fun: 205 GTI, 306 GTI, Caterham, Elise, TVR, Clio Cup, MR2 Mk1, MR2 Turbo, Westfield or other kit cars etc...
Basically, what I think makes cars fun is mainly down to the handling, light weight and rawness of it. How it makes you feel in general. For me, rear drive is better than front drive for fun, and the lighter and rawer it is the more involved you feel. Open top are for me more fun than tin tops because you feel more exposed, can see more, hear more, smell more. NA is generally better than Turbo IMO as it takes more effort to drive quickly, so is more rewarding when you get it right. Stuff like excellent throttle response and good gearchange is also important, as is the driving position. Sports car seem to excel here over more compromised machines.
I think cars I would find the most fun would be stuff like Caterhams, as they're very raw. Elise is probably the next best thing, with the likes of the Mk1 MX5 or MR2 not too far behind. TVRs and other big muscle car types would not be far behind, the noise they make alone would make driving fun regardless of the speed of attack.
For me, after years of driving FWD cars, they feel too ordinary, too normal, not special enough. To me, when I drive a modern hot hatch, it just feels like the mundane car it was based on, only with more grip, stiffer suspension, bigger brakes and more power. These cars simply cannot offer you the same thrills as a good purpose built sports car. At least the old stuff was light and raw and felt sporty.
My old '99 Focus 1.6 Zetec was a right hoot to drive. Was near enought standard apart from s/s exhaust, 17"s & eibach springs but the revvy nature of the 1.6 Yamaha developed Zetec-S engine, it was perfect on the road that I used to use on my way home. Hilly & twisty, no long straights but life a point to point rally stage. Who needs big power to have fun, 106bhp was enough.
Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Sunday 26th September 16:45
for ultimate fun you HAVE to have the low weight, there is simply no substitute
i'd say an elise or a caterham would be very hard to beat and you don't want high power derivatives of either car, 120-130bhp is all you need
beyond that, a light hatch in the proper old skool vein, 205, 106 or clio willams. A clio 172 gets in the frame as well as its the only true old school modern hatch IMO.
normally i'd add the mx5, the puma, mimi etc.. but honestly, they're not a patch on a caterham or an elise
i'd say an elise or a caterham would be very hard to beat and you don't want high power derivatives of either car, 120-130bhp is all you need
beyond that, a light hatch in the proper old skool vein, 205, 106 or clio willams. A clio 172 gets in the frame as well as its the only true old school modern hatch IMO.
normally i'd add the mx5, the puma, mimi etc.. but honestly, they're not a patch on a caterham or an elise
redgriff500 said:
These days everything seems to be getting heavier and so fast that you can't use half the performance on the road without risking a ban.
What are the most fun cars to drive on the road ?
Standard cars, new or used, below £15k
The first ones that come to my mind are:
MX5
Puma
Mk2 Golf GTi
205 GTi
Elise (although really its limits are too high for road use really)
Original Mini
E30 M3
I'm struggling to think of many modern hot hatches that are fun, I had an Integra R and whilst I could see it would be a good track car it was infuriating to drive on the road as you simply couldn't access its power.
Many like the Megane 225 are very quick but I didn't find myself going the long way home.
maybe slightly biased as I own some. But then that's part of the reason why I own them What are the most fun cars to drive on the road ?
Standard cars, new or used, below £15k
The first ones that come to my mind are:
MX5
Puma
Mk2 Golf GTi
205 GTi
Elise (although really its limits are too high for road use really)
Original Mini
E30 M3
I'm struggling to think of many modern hot hatches that are fun, I had an Integra R and whilst I could see it would be a good track car it was infuriating to drive on the road as you simply couldn't access its power.
Many like the Megane 225 are very quick but I didn't find myself going the long way home.
smart Roadster - lightweight, nimble, well balance and very low seating. 80hp of turbo 3 pot makes a nice noise, feels grunty but allows you to drive it at 100% without going at too silly speeds
classics - I've got a TR7 now and had an MGB GT in the past. Similar to the Roadster in someways, but old cars offer up different thrills, you feel so much more connected to the road in them, even though grip levels are much lower
Land Rover 90 - surprisingly fun to throw about with a V8 or tweaked diesel motor. Faster and more nimble than many would believe but they make you work for it, so offer up huge smiles per mile.
TVR - probably more of an S or V8 Wedge. Suspect they'd offer up thrills like a classic (e.g. my TR7 V8). Very easy to throw about and enjoy at all speeds. Lower grip keeps speeds down though.
Classics:
-Gen 1 RX-7
-TR Triumphs (all of them)
-MG A, B and C (even RV8??)
-Hillman Imp
-Capri
Muscle cars - a bit like a classic in some ways. But a lovely V8 sound track make them fun all the time, as does the massive low end grunt most have. You can enjoy them at low speed as much as at high speed.
It does have to be modern to have fun... many a good tune played on an old fiddle 
I'm coming up to the first years ownership of this.... And I am still smiling like a loon
If you want something newer the Reliant SS1 and later derivatives are always being talked about as fantastic drivers cars.....
I'm coming up to the first years ownership of this.... And I am still smiling like a loon If you want something newer the Reliant SS1 and later derivatives are always being talked about as fantastic drivers cars.....
saladin said:
It does have to be modern to have fun... many a good tune played on an old fiddle I'm coming up to the first years ownership of this.... And I am still smiling like a loon
If you want something newer the Reliant SS1 and later derivatives are always being talked about as fantastic drivers cars.....
Nice scimmy...used to have gte a few years back,lots of fun...... I'm coming up to the first years ownership of this.... And I am still smiling like a loon If you want something newer the Reliant SS1 and later derivatives are always being talked about as fantastic drivers cars.....
The AX gti I had was amazing fun. You could rev the little 1.4 engine to oblivion without going too fast.
The brakes and handling were great and the ride so soft that you could really hammer down a country road.
To cap it all it had superb steering feel and could be driven on the throttle.
It's just a shame they rust so badly.
The brakes and handling were great and the ride so soft that you could really hammer down a country road.
To cap it all it had superb steering feel and could be driven on the throttle.
It's just a shame they rust so badly.
A Toyota MR2 Rev3 Turbo is something worth experiencing. They really are superb value for what they are fetching right now. 241bhp standard, mid engined handling all for around £2,500 and they are all imports so rust is not an issue. Easy to modify to 300bhp, probably going to add about another £1,000 to the overall cost and it will be a seriously quick car. I think in standard form they do the 0 - 60 in 5.27 seconds which for a 90's car is still pretty quick. Driving one through the B road twisties is so much fun
Jwebster1 said:
Mk1 MR2...just buy one!
MX5 is easier to drive, alomost effortless fun, the MR2 is harder and will sting you easier but is something else once you tame the wild tiger!!! (house cat)
Add the TTE upgrade to the MR2 Roadster and we're in business. But pricey upgrade - something like £3k in total for everything.MX5 is easier to drive, alomost effortless fun, the MR2 is harder and will sting you easier but is something else once you tame the wild tiger!!! (house cat)
Ive had fun driving every car I have ever driven.
One of the most fun was a clapped out old boxy 1.4 rover 214.
Only because I was handbraking it at silly speeds, constantly foot to the floor, massive burnouts, ran over the top of the car if i needed to get from the front to teh back and generally abused it. Was light and tinny yet still long enough not to be a small hatchback so I think it handbraked better. Perfected how to get out of a tight space by lighting up the fronts and steering out nearly on the spot too.
One of the most fun was a clapped out old boxy 1.4 rover 214.
Only because I was handbraking it at silly speeds, constantly foot to the floor, massive burnouts, ran over the top of the car if i needed to get from the front to teh back and generally abused it. Was light and tinny yet still long enough not to be a small hatchback so I think it handbraked better. Perfected how to get out of a tight space by lighting up the fronts and steering out nearly on the spot too.
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