Most fun per $$ out of a new car?

[wdfifteen]

Just noodling here. I remember what a hoot the 1275 Mini Cooper was back in the 60s. My VW bugs were slow, but fun. You seldom had to slow down for corners! They say it's a lot more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow (or something like that). I wonder if you could get the same fun out of a Chevy Spark or Toyota Yaris. Basic, fairly light, litre and a half engines, 5 speed ... could be a lot of Mini Cooper grade fun for the money - or not.
Discuss.

[Jim Richards]

If it moves, people will tune it/race it. For example:

https://www.mychevysparkev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3656

The Yaris Performance Primer - Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site

[flipper35]

For not much more you could get a Civic.

[Embraer]

I put 145k trouble free miles on my Fiat 500 before I sold it to my buddy. With the 5 speed, that thing was actually fun to drive. I bought one of the first ones in the country in 2011....I wanted an abarth, but they didn't have them in the US yet. I think I paid 16.5k out the door, and it had more options then a Civic costing 10k more.

[RWebb]

Roomba with the LED stair sensor hotrod package

[pwd72s]

Mt first car...a 1950 Ford. Paid $325 for it. Driving wasn't all that special, but having a good back seat was..

(edit) whoops...you said NEW car. In that case, a 1965 Pontiac GTO, although it's back seat wasn't as comfy as the old Ford's.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Lol at the answers for cars from 50 years ago. I drove a new Civic SI and came away very impressed for the $25k asking price. I find that one pretty hard to beat for a new car. Beat the hell out of the new WRX and GTI that I also drove that were both more money and would likely be less reliable in the long term.

[Tobra]

Miata is always the answer

Originally Posted by RWebb

Roomba with the LED stair sensor hotrod package

Oh yeah, baby!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Miata is always the answer

I love the Miata but honestly find them to be overpriced. When you consider that the convertible Miata is more than the Civic SI and the Miata RF is more than the Civic Type R, both cars that would respectively wipe the floor with the Miata while also being more practical, it’s a hard sell.

[SeanPizzle]

Got a Golf R earlier this year with the manual. I am in love with driving this car.

[Tobra]

I am a ragtop guy Matt, always been of the opinion that topless is more fun and RWD>FWD for spirited driving.

I also do not care for the looks of the Japanese Miata, greatly prefer the Italian flavored one.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Roomba with the LED stair sensor hotrod package

I know a lot of cats that would agree with you, but I just can't seem to get seated comfortably.

I'm not sure I could have fun in a Yaris. The only one I ever drove was so very slow to 60 that I thought it might be broken. Even my 1980 Fiat Spider feels fast in comparison. My Miata is 27 years old now, and is supercharged, so it is relatively quick to 100. That makes all the difference to me. I think the new Miata with 180 ponies would be quick enough to have fun. I live in the Northeast, and I don't really need a car that will do 180 to have fun on the winding roads. I tend to prefer a car that I can go through a few gears to reach 60 or 70 as opposed to a car that is passing 70 while still in second gear. But I don't really enjoy a car that seems to hit a wall in third gear and barely crawls to redline, or runs out of steam at 80.

I don't need a super fast car, but I like a car that is strong through the gears and can hit a hundred at will. That makes it quick enough to power out of any slow corner like a tiger, and ensures that the gearing will be right at any speed. I drove a few of the new Fiat 500s, and even the sport version seemed a bit sluggish past 60, although it was a tight and agile car. I guess my concept of slow car fast is relative, but I do like a car that is strong to 100, even though I will rarely top 90 on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere. I totally don't car what the car is capable of doing past 100 on the street, and I don't really drive any fast tracks anymore where 100 plus performance would make a difference.

Fun on the street is totally different to me than fast on the track. Sometimes the best track cars aren't as deploy-able on the street, and for me, it isn't always as much about what a car can do on paper as much as it is about how it feels doing it. I think I have had my old Miata for 12 years, and I probably only have a total of about 8,000 dollars spent including buy in, 3 sets of tires and maintenance. The only car I ever had that surpassed it for fun per dollar was a 1980 Fiat spider with a balanced stock Fuel injected engine and a sport suspension. That car cost me 2400 dollars to build, and was very fun to drive, although it was only quick to about 80. It would do an honest 108 at 6000 RPMs in fifth, and it would do it all day, every day. I lived in Northern AZ when I built that car, so I did stretch its legs.

Of course none of these is a new car. I do like a hot hatch, and there are still a few out there, even if Ford pulled out of the market. IMO 0-60 in 8 seconds is a ''slow'' car these days.

[DanielDudley]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-veloster-n-wins-prestigious-2020-road--track-performance-car-of-the-year-300950279.html

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I am a ragtop guy Matt, always been of the opinion that topless is more fun and RWD>FWD for spirited driving.

I also do not care for the looks of the Japanese Miata, greatly prefer the Italian flavored one.

That’s fair. I’m more of a hard top guy and love the Miata RF, but $40k when optioned with the Recaros and sport package is pretty steep.

[Nickshu]

Subaru BRZ.

[rwrink]

We got a manual JCW mini last year and it's been a blast.

[wdfifteen]

That Hyundai Veloster N sounds interesting.

[Tobra]

The Veloster is surprisingly badass

[Chocaholic]

No experience but the Kia Stinger looks interesting also. Surprisingly, I’ve yet to see it referred to as the Stinker. A very good sign...