What are the most fun cars you have driven, and why?
 

I dunno what brought this to mind (driving my 911, maybe) but I thought some interesting choices might come up here, since there seems to be a pretty wide experience base. For me, I'd name three:

1)My 911. I doubt much needs to be explained here.

2)Lotus Elan S3. I think it was an S3, anyway. This belonged to a coworker at Chrysler. One day at lunch he said, "let's go for a drive". Took me for a lap around the tech Center, then gave me the wheel. This car was built to about 140bhp, so it was fast. It is easily the most communicative street car I have driven - more than anything else, a car I could call telepathic. The controls were full of feel, well-located, and similarly weighted. I did not get anywhere near the car's limits, but the car was clearly very easy to drive fast - it was obvious that it gave you lots and lots of warning when you were nearing the grip limits. Turn-in was phenomenal. This car was sort of like the crack of sports cars for me.

3)Ford Model T. Not an expected choice, but oh boy did I have fun in this! Drove this in a small town in the north woods of WI last summer, on the 4th of July. I was amazed that the owner let me drive it, as it got driven about twice a year and only by him. And, of course, I have never driven one before, and they are not a car you can just jump in and figure out. You have to have operation explained to you, but after about 5 minutes I was comfortably driving it around town, starting and stopping, changing between high range and low. This is a car that, obviously, really takes you back to the early days of motoring. Stopping requires a lot of planning.

I love my 911 but one car I had a blast with was a Fiat X-19. It was a tossable go cart with a targa roof. Only drove it for on spring and summer but loved loved loved it.

My most memorable moment was driving in a 66 Corvair in 1968. That car was a blast to be in.

I just picked up a 2004 Mustang GT convertible....neck snapping torque, and good sound to boot. I really liked the old 71 Datsun 240Z I had ahile back, it really felt like a connected 2 seat sports car with good sounds from the inline 6.

Most thrilling ride was in my buddy's 1971 455 trans am SD. 165 mph and still pulling hard.

'60 Nash Metropolitan. I like how the column shifter doesn't actually come out of the column, but out of the dashboard just to the right of the column. I also remember the steering wheel was disproportionately large, as were the twin horns. You would think that a Cadillac was honkin' at you when you heard it.

The little car had reasonable leg room, and headroom, but was kinda narrow. It would feel ok when traveling with your significant other, but two dudes in a Met would look funny.

The weirdest was a Citroen SM which a friend owned and had me drive it from NS to PEI one time. Got lots of looks, a real nice car with lots of character, comfort and class. A 3.0 Maserati engine I think. Single post steering wheel and a soft ball kinda thing on the floor for a brake pedal. Nice leather interior. It was fun.

944, they are roomy but I felt like I was wearing the car. The way mine was (100% stock) there was no over or under steer... If I pushed it too hard it just scooted sideways.

A 1964 (I think) Rambler, ugly as all get out... manual steering and brakes were a bear, but everywhere I went people waved at me and stopped to tell me that uncle so-and-so had one. Also could park it unlocked with the windows down.

Prertty longish list
 

1. 1950 Ford 2 door...my first car, so that's my excuse...Freedom at last!
2. 1960 Bugeye Sprite, owned by a now deceased best buddy. Damn, I miss the guy.
A 48 horsepower go-kart. Not much in a straight line, but the first sports car I
drove. I was mesmerized with the quick steering & handling.
3. 1962 MGA. Again owned by the same buddy. Purity incorporated with side curtains
and soft top...just a great drive.
4. 1965 Pontiac GTO. My first new car. 3 deuces and a 4 speed and a 389. "nuff said.
5. 1972 911S. Yes it was fun. A lot of fun. But that fun died when it became a sought
after collectable by those who wanted it for the wrong reasons.
6. 2009 Mustang Bullitt model. Most fun moment in it was outpulling a Boxster S
up the northbound "Salem Hill" of I-5. He must have thought the Bullitt was
a base 6 cyl model 'stang. I really enjoyed watching his expression change from
"I got this" to "WTF???."

The 993 is a wonderful driving experience - just enough old school but with some modern touches - but I have to say I just drove my 128i (with the BMW Performance Suspension) through the mountains this morning and it was a blast. Very comfy and compliant but also excellent driving/steering feel. Great torque for a 3.0 liter. Smiling the whole time.

Can't comment on anything like Veyrons or Zondas though...

My '72 911 3.0L was a blast. Light weight interior, well balanced, headers, fixed back racing seats, 5 pt. harnesses... It was fun on the street, autocross course, and track.

In one autocross event, I had done something to blow the lap early on. Cones, off course... don't remember exactly what. But, that lap became one that didn't matter. In one high speed sweeper I can remember being just slightly tail out for the longest time. It it had been a good lap, I would have backed off a bit to bring it into line, but since it didn't matter I stayed on the gas and drifted yard after yard, around the cones and lined up perfectly for the slalom that was next.

As for daily drivers, I'm extremely happy with my Mazda3. More horsepower would be great, but as a package it's hard to beat the feel, fit, finish, driving experience, infotainment, etc. that are engineered into that car. Someone at work quipped, "You've owned Porsches and now you drive a Mazda? What's up with that?" My answer: "What does that tell you about Mazdas?"

In the order that I owned them:
'65 Chevy Impala 2dr 350, 4spd. My first car, older than I was. Not too fast, but quick and fun for a new driver.
and then the last 4 cars
'88 911 targa - probably my favorite driving dynamics of all of them.
'97 miata - tons of fun despite the lack of power (or maybe because of it)
'04 factory turbo miata - also tons of fun, but different than the previous miata
'08 Boxster S - very, very enjoyable to drive. I love this car, it's thrilling to drive, but it may not be quite as fun as the others because the limits and speeds are so much higher.

16 valve 91' Golf GTI. Really loved that car

1st gen RX-7.

Loved the rotary.

Loved how easy and cheap it was to make more power.

Infinitely toss-able, think i took on average 7 out of 10 corners with the ass end hanging out.

Sucked in the rain, I swear you could spin that thing on a single spot of spit.

First, and the one I always go back in my mind, was a red, 68 912 Soft Window Targa my brother let me borrow from time to time when I was in high school circa 1979. All I had ever driven before were large heavy Fords like Galaxie 500's and LTD's.

Weirdest was a friend's Gogomobil Dart. It has a sideways "H" pattern - that took quite a bit of practice.

He also has sever Isettas. They are easy to get into, but my feat are so big (12W) that I had to take off my shoes so that I only pushed on one pedal at a time.

Being 18 and owning a 1971 BMW 2002 was my watershed. I bought it with my own money as a senior in HS.

OneWhipped had a great thread about don't drive your heroes and the 2002 suffers from that malaise. The meekest car made today would bounce the old 2002.

However, in 1975 it was a revelation. It remains my benchmark.

Back in 08 I drove an 05-ish Lotus Elise. That car was pure fun. I was ready to buy and offered my 993 as a trade-in to the second-hand sports car dealer. They offered $12k for my 993. I countered with $18k. They said no and I walked.

That Elise was so raw and exciting. It really made my 993 feel like I was driving a Lincoln all the way home! I'd still like to get one someday.

Sorry, couldn't resist gratuitous photo, but it was the most fun I've had on four wheels. The only vehicle I regret selling.

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A '74 ford Pinto...skipping classes before I was legal to drive :eek
A '70 Cougar with a 351....dad's car, but I was 16 and had my license :cool:
A new '78 CJ5....purchased new @ 17 with my own hard work....a roll-over machine.
An '87 Supra turbo....140 mph with the top off after a few beers..more capable than my Carrera ;)

How I survived the stupidity of my youth is beyond me....but I made good grades :(

Obviously, I'd have to vote for my 930. I don't have a ton of seat time in lots of different sporty cars. But to a certain degree, a blast can be had in just about any car, no? I made myself giggle on an on ramp in my plebeian daily driven Honda Civic just yesterday.

2004 Volkswagen R32 - handles like it's on rails.

On public roads, hard to beat an early Miata. Great handling, but with its minimal power, I can drive it really hard and not cause trouble.

400+ horsepower cars like modern Corvettes are fun for... two or three seconds at a time.
Then you're going way too fast, and have to back off.

I live in a semi-rural area with hilly, curvy roads. Light traffic, very sparse law enforcement. Perfect place for an underpowered sports car.

Lotus Elan S3 1967 BRG w dual sidedraft Webers.
Like skiing. You could toss it, drift it, carve it, FUN!
Toyota MR2 Spyder 2001- lightweight, small, midengine. GoKart.

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Will we ever have small, lightweight convertibles in the US again???

I love my 911 and my Miata but the 2 funnest cars I've driven are the Formula Dodge cars I drive at the Skip Barber school and my buddy Chris' Ariel Atom. Driving that Atom is a truly amazing experience!

My FA. The whole time driving it, it was like HOLY SHCIET!!!!

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196X 912. This was a customer's car at a dealer I worked for in college. I drove it before I had ever owned a Porsche. It was just cool.

993 Targa... another customer's car.

My 2001 Boxster because the ratio of smiles to price of entry is priceless.

A 1997 Prevost Le Mirage XL... this is a bus, literally.

I'd have to say I just loved driving my '56 AH 100-4 and my '59 TR-3 the most. They weren't fast & definitely not high tech, but I just loved it every time I got into them. I love my 911 also, but Otter74 asked what were the most fun. For me they were the most fun fast or slow.

Came here to list this as my first car and most fun car I have ever driven. Someone beat me to it. Not sure why, but 90hp+5 close gears+good handling+2400lb=FUN.

My 87 930, then my 73 240Z.

Elise / exige they are a pita to deal with sometimes, but they make other modern cars feel like a boat by comparison

Oh, yes! The one i drove was just like that, except I suppose it was an S4, because it had the window frames. (I thought S3s did too?) it was just a marvelous, marvelous car.

I have driven Formula SAE cars and those were oodles of fun, but very tiring - I'd rank cars like the Elan above them.

One I forgot was an OG Mini - it was about a '75, I think, and a semi-automatic. I was at a BBQ at the Woodward Dream Cruise and someone I had never met before tossed me the keys when I mentioned how much I loved them and said "have fun". This was the most roller-skate car I've driven. It felt like it was sort of draped over me.

Loved my 2002. Great sports car for the price.

Most fun car was my 997S. I torn up the roads all over the Cascade mountain range with it. Fantastic car.

1977 Lotus Esprit S2.

Two hours into PA from Ohio border. Not really mountains. Very big hills. First mid engine car for me.

Twisties. Owner says do not mess with the gas pedal. Just steer around these curves. 50 mph and was easy for car. A revelation for me.

Jag E Type
 

My old Jag E Type Series 1: very early car. Pure fun.

Fast (142mph in 1975) & tough. Chicks loved it too which was a big bonus for a young (mid 20s) guy.

Yeah - when it became 'collectible' it lost its fun mojo.

I am seeing this happening again with my early 911 SC !!!!


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All of my 240Z's followed by my old 69E.

The 240s were the most safely tossable, slidable, controllable and quick cars I've ever own. Webers and headers made a real difference on these cars.

The 69E was just a dream though. God I miss that car.

And that's why I'm dying to get a Lotus/Caterham 7
I'd love to drive one of those. Probably the closest I'll get to driving an F1 car.

1) My 911SC. There's a reason I've kept it for over 16 years.

2) My old Alfa Romeo Alfetta. Long gone now... Great drivers car IMO. Extremely underrated. Everything about it was spot on. From the engine note to the handling.
But the build quality was worse than a Fiat but that didn't matter.

3) My souped up 78 Fiat 500. Again long gone but lots of fun to drive after I had rebuilt and upgraded the motor.
IMO The standard power from a stock motor is truly dangerous in modern traffic.

Alfetta from the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

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The F355 for obvious reasons. Although, my '65 Mercedes 190c heckflosse was one of my fun cars. 4 speed on the column. Painfully slow, but man it was a fun cruiser. Im 34 now...and i think I've owned 34 cars. Different cars at different points in my life have been fun for different reasons.

Oh yeah, and back on the Ferrari...I let tons of people drive it, even people on the board here. I guess just sharing that car with people makes it really fun for me.

This is a quality I appreciate in other car people for having been on the receiving end of it, and that has over the years increased my willingness to do things like that myself.

Obviously I let my girlfriend's dad drive my 911 after I bought it - after all, he let me drive his MGB GT, a car he bought new and that had quite possibly been driven by no one other than him until he let me drive it. Even my girlfriend hadn't driven it yet.

I was struck by the nonchalance by which the Mini owner let me, a complete stranger who he had just met 5 minutes before, take his car out for a spin.

Lotus Elise - Currently own one, love driving it, especially with the hard top off.

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Ferrari 458 - My "someday" car I will own.

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