100 Greatest Drivers' Cars

[GTAm]

GTAm might be able to share some first hand information about what an MR2 as daily run about is like

If i were you i'd probably be brave & go with the Z - if its anything like the new ones i can safely say that it works as a daily drive

Yes sure!

It's very good for an 80's car! Love the power (145bhp with the SC) and lightness (1000kg), so handy in traffic even without power steering.

Can't stand the engine noise though, it sound like a sick Darth Vadar wheezing (Need an Alfa twin cam in there!).

The ride is surprisingly good for an old Japanese car and with such a short wheels base. This is a big surprise for me.

Steering could be a little sharper and more communicative (actually the 156 is more) for a sports car.

Driving it near the limit is quite tricky to say the least. Done 180 deg spins twice now ! First one was quite scary as Prad will agree as he was the passenger!

The throttle is sticky (a fault that I need to rectify) and this obviously adds to the snappy nature as does the super charger kick.

I've lost the rear end on a few front engined rear drive cars before but have always been able to catch it or drift it into shape but when this let's go, it's gone!!! Need more practice for sure!

Never driven a Z of any vintage before but if I'm ucscsades I'd put a bid on the GTV! Giulias feel exotic instantly. I recall the first few drives in mine. After it was properly tuned I took in for a test drive and when I hit 120 down Green Path I suddenly realized that this was something really really special and unlike anything I had driven (or imagined) before! It was late morning on a week day. Me in my long sleeves enjoying a drive in a classic Alfa! Unreal!

It was only then (at that moment on Green Path) that I knew what I had bought. Then and there I was infected with the Alfa virus! No cure found as yet !

[Devinda_Z]

Can't stand the engine noise though, it sound like a sick Darth Vadar wheezing (Need an Alfa twin cam in there!).

really?! i quite liked the Supercharger whine!

I've lost the rear end on a few front engined rear drive cars before but have always been able to catch it or drift it into shape but when this let's go, it's gone!!!

its never ever easy - on a day to day point to point blast basis the FWD is always going to be more fun cuz you can push it knowing that you can keep things in check...

but not so much with these

Never driven a Z of any vintage before

lets see if we can rectify that once i get the new shocks

I was infected with the Alfa virus! No cure found as yet !

....& continues to keep infecting those within ear shot!

[MasterDon]

really?! i quite liked the Supercharger whine!

....& continues to keep infecting those within ear shot!

i agree...he's gotta stop doin this!!!...a year ago i didnt give s*it abou alfa's but now i get this heart burn and this tingling sensation in me pants everytime i see a 156 pass by...i've caught the alfa bug fo' sure,and i got it bad...damn you GTAm!!!!!

yeah i liked the supercharger whine...infact i'm considering installing one to one of mine just to hear that gorgeous noise...lol

[Devinda_Z]

i agree...he's gotta stop doin this!!!...a year ago i didnt give s*it abou alfa's but now i get this heart burn and this tingling sensation in me pants everytime i see a 156 pass by...i've caught the alfa bug fo' sure,and i got it bad...damn you GTAm!!!!!

dude thats almost just a little too grpahic

just outta curiosity whats the largest engine the 156's that made into SL receive? saw a black 156 with a very tatty red leather interior looking a little forlorn in fort earlier today... rather sad,cuz another burgundy car in Ratamalana i've seen hauling timber! (possibly belongs to the Timber mill owner :unsusre: )

[GTAm]

i agree...he's gotta stop doin this!!!...a year ago i didnt give s*it abou alfa's but now i get this heart burn and this tingling sensation in me pants everytime i see a 156 pass by...i've caught the alfa bug fo' sure,and i got it bad...damn you GTAm!!!!!

Ha ha you won't regret it!

[GTAm]

just outta curiosity whats the largest engine the 156's that made into SL receive? saw a black 156 with a very tatty red leather interior looking a little forlorn in fort earlier today... rather sad,cuz another burgundy car in Ratamalana i've seen hauling timber! (possibly belongs to the Timber mill owner :unsusre: )

It has to be the 2.4 Jtd. None of the V6s made it here sadly.

[Devinda_Z]

It has to be the 2.4 Jtd. None of the V6s made it here sadly.

strangely enough was looking at the one on AL this afternoon and i must say it looks absolutely delectable!

http://www.autolanka.com/ad.asp?ID=13630

[GTAm]

really?! i quite liked the Supercharger whine!

its never ever easy - on a day to day point to point blast basis the FWD is always going to be more fun cuz you can push it knowing that you can keep things in check...

but not so much with these

lets see if we can rectify that once i get the new shocks

....& continues to keep infecting those within ear shot!

Yeah the Super Charger is "interesting" but the engine underneath sounds drab. I'm spoiled silly by singing Alfas!

Ah Fwd vs RWD.............. I think I'll take fwd on small cars and Rwd on larger cars.

Thanks great! Let's look forward to the new shocks

[ucscsades]

Yes sure!

It's very good for an 80's car! Love the power (145bhp with the SC) and lightness (1000kg), so handy in traffic even without power steering.

Can't stand the engine noise though, it sound like a sick Darth Vadar wheezing (Need an Alfa twin cam in there!).

The ride is surprisingly good for an old Japanese car and with such a short wheels base. This is a big surprise for me.

Steering could be a little sharper and more communicative (actually the 156 is more) for a sports car.

Driving it near the limit is quite tricky to say the least. Done 180 deg spins twice now ! First one was quite scary as Prad will agree as he was the passenger!

The throttle is sticky (a fault that I need to rectify) and this obviously adds to the snappy nature as does the super charger kick.

I've lost the rear end on a few front engined rear drive cars before but have always been able to catch it or drift it into shape but when this let's go, it's gone!!! Need more practice for sure!

Never driven a Z of any vintage before but if I'm ucscsades I'd put a bid on the GTV! Giulias feel exotic instantly. I recall the first few drives in mine. After it was properly tuned I took in for a test drive and when I hit 120 down Green Path I suddenly realized that this was something really really special and unlike anything I had driven (or imagined) before! It was late morning on a week day. Me in my long sleeves enjoying a drive in a classic Alfa! Unreal!

It was only then (at that moment on Green Path) that I knew what I had bought. Then and there I was infected with the Alfa virus! No cure found as yet !

Haha, thanks to all you gents for your input. GTAm, yeah it's tricky enough especially in wet weather to control the RWD E30....plus with very little weight in front of you (as most of us are used to) it would be a completely differnt game taming a MR2. As for the Z...it's a gorgeous beauty with a great mean look and an amazing sound. BUT I think I'm going to have to pass on both these..mainly because lately I've got into kayaking and need to be able to have enough of a roof to fit a rack with the kayaks (that totally blew away my hopes of getting an s2000 too!). Right now I'm considering an '04 WRX Wagon...I like the mean look, pretty well powered, and very practical. Only thing is the shoddy build quality, especially in the interior. They really don't have much on the Europeans! I'm still amazed by the build quality of my 20 y/o bimmer!

As for the GTV....those things are just pure class! I really fell in love with it a few years ago when I was driving around San Francisco and saw a beautiful metallic silver one with an almost burgundy interior screaming down the hills in the financial district. Most people here don't even know what a GTV is..and probably wouldn't pay much attention to it. But people who know them, know them. And that guy driving it knew I knew..although infrequent I think that'd be a great feeling. Of course in addition to the daily pleasure of driving one! Maybe someday as a second car, but at this point I don't want to molest one with my daily needs.

Speaking of drivers cars...I'm sure plenty of people on here are excited about the Toyota FT-86 concept info that came out recently? Sounds very promising..hope they don't mess it up with too much weight/making it too tame to please the masses/do a crappy job marketing it with a ridiculous price tag. All possible, but hope they pull it off!

[Devinda_Z]

Speaking of drivers cars...I'm sure plenty of people on here are excited about the Toyota FT-86 concept info that came out recently? Sounds very promising..hope they don't mess it up with too much weight/making it too tame to please the masses/do a crappy job marketing it with a ridiculous price tag. All possible, but hope they pull it off!

completely forgot about this! - thought they'de shelved the project! apparently (&thankfully) not!

i'm just relishing the thought of a RWD Flat 4!

now all it needs to be is reasonably priced (current speculation is between $20,000 &/or 3 Million Yen right? )

FT-86 Concept

Great to own and fun-to-drive: those are the guiding principles behind a new Toyota sports car concept that will break cover for the first time at the Tokyo motor show later this month.

The five-seat FT-86 (that’s hachi roku in Japanese) goes back to the fundamental qualities of the classic sports car with its rear-wheel drive configuration, compact dimensions, low centre of gravity and lightweight construction. Under the bonnet there is a 2.0-litre boxer engine that is strong on both performance and environmental quality.

The show car’s bodywork is finished in Flash Red, an eye-catching shade that contains a hint of blue. Inside, the cabin design further expresses the car’s classic sporting qualities with many of the structural elements left uncovered.

FT-86 Concept Dimensions

Length (mm) 4,160

Width (mm) 1,760

Height (mm) 1,260

Wheelbase (mm) 2,570

Source : http://www.auto123.com/en/news/car-news/to...mp;artid=112103

[ucscsades]

Yup..think price is expected to be around the $20k range..which if it is, should be just right. There really isn't anything else as promising at that price point at least in the US market. The Hyundai Genesis coupe is quite a bit more expensive and quite a bit heavier I believe.

Unfortunately it'll be a few fold that price by the time it hits SL roads, won't it? I'm sure there'll be a few coming down onto the hands of a few luckier folk nevertheless.

Whatever happened to the rest of the 100 Best list btw?

[Devinda_Z]

Whatever happened to the rest of the 100 Best list btw?

thanks for the bump - i checked the update yesterday but forgot to post it

so here goes

100 Greatest Drivers' Cars Countdown 80-71

80 FORD ESCORT RS2000

Rear-drive Escorts are easy to understand, and utterly faithful with simple suspension and sublime steering. Add a super-slick gearchange and light weight and you have the ideal old-school entertainer, as any 1970s rally driver will tell you. The mk1 saw the crude but undoubtedly torquey 2-litre engine replace the highly-strung dohc 1.6 from the RS1600 for pace without pain. Valuable today, a joy forever. The mk2 version (shown here) had the iconic slanting nose and quad headlamps.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1993cc Power: 110bhp Top speed: 110mph 0-60: 8.9sec Years: 1975-80

79 FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI

It’s huge: 16ft long, 6ft 5in wide. It’s heavy: 1840kg. Few would call it beautiful. But the 612 is the incredible shrinking car, its epic V12 shrugging off the mass with a saxophonic wail, its steering precise and quick once past the rubberiness, the nose hooking into corners, the tail powering through as the F1 paddle-shift disguises the forces at work below. Curiously addictive.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: V12, 5748cc Power: 533bhp Top speed: 199mph 0-60: 4.3sec Years: 2003-

78 LANCIA FULVIA HF

Along with the Cooper S, a 1960s powerhouse of front-wheel-drive fun, with a snorty, revvy, narrow-angle V4, five gears and discs all round. Feels nose-heavy at low speeds; becomes fabulously poised at speed as understeer vanishes and feel floods through the steering. It’s wonderfully benign when you lift off, astonishingly adhesive for its time. No wonder it kept winning rallies.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: V4, 1584cc Power: 115bhp Top speed: 112mph 0-60: 9.2sec Years: 1968-72

77 WIESMANN GT MF5

It’s the quality of intereaction between driver and machine that gets under your skin. The savagely loud BMW M5 V10 is real edge-of-madness stuff. As is the acceleration it unleashes in such a light car. The Wiesmann feels fantastically nimble and, mostly thanks to its terrific body control, is dynamite to hustle down a challenging road. The way it feels both sharp and supple is very classy.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: V10, 4999cc Power: 500bhp Top speed: 193mph 0-60: 3.8sec Years: 2007-

76 MINI COOPER S

The mk1 version of the New Mini is our choice. It’s not as BMW as Germany would have you believe, being engineered almost entirely in the UK. The supercharger, whining like the original Mini’s geartrain, is the making of the crude Chrysler-descended four-pot, and gives the Mini the muscle to match its chuckability and directness. Mini GP version is a total hoot, and both are somehow purer than today’s S.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1598cc, supercharged Power: 163bhp Top speed: 135mph 0-60: 7.1sec Years: 2001-06

75 PEUGEOT 106 RALLYE

God, what a laugh… a tiny terror with a manically revvy 1.3, seemingly no weight, absolutely no luxuries and a tail waggier than a puppy-dog’s. Aim at bend, brake, chuck at corner, catch tail in an instant, revel in the sheer immediacy of the thing. Every learner driver should have a lesson in a Rallye, preferably a mk1 because it’s lighter. Makes today’s 500 Abarth seem stolid.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1294cc Power: 100bhp Top speed: 118mph 0-60: 9.3sec Years: 1994-96

74 BMW E39 M5

Musclepower massively enhanced over the previous, straight-six M5, with V8 power installed to create an addictively understated hot-rod. Glorious sound, sublimely driftable handling, a proper manual gearbox, and you can take the whole family with you for the ride. Most people wouldn’t even know what it is, so you can be discreet with your indulgences too.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: V8, 4941cc Power: 400bhp Top speed: 155mph 0-60: 4.9sec Years: 1999-03

73 PORSCHE 959

It looks a strange mutant today but this, with the F40, was the state of the mid-80s supercar art. Twin sequential turbos, four-wheel drive with electronic torque-split and active dampers make it a technofest of efficiency; all the 911 virtues of traction and pointability with none of the vices. Well, that’s the theory; in reality it’s not as well composed nor as tactile as more recent generations of 911s. Still massively quick, of course, easily as fast as a modern Turbo… but maybe that cleverness gets in the way of real thrills.

Layout: Rear-engine, 4wd Engine: Flat-6, 2850cc, twin-turbo Power: 450bhp Top speed: 197mph 0-60: 3.7sec Years: 1987-90

72 TVR TUSCAN MK2

This is the post-2005 Tuscan with minor tweaks to calm the chassis, but it’s still an engagingly fierce beast with an explosive straight-six engine and massive oversteer potential. Power is easy to modulate, the gearshift is meaty, the steering is ultra-quick but smooth in its responses. The Tuscan is about sound, vision (it’s almost surreal, outside and in), thrust and feel. A heady mix. And a special mention for the Convertible, which felt almost like an updated Griffith, it was that good.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 6-cyl, 3996cc Power: 400bhp Top speed: 185mph 0-60: 4.0sec Years: 2005-07

71 MCLAREN F1

Still the most single-minded, uncompromising supercar ever built, and blessed with almost certainly the greatest engine ever fitted to a road car. Gordon Murray, hater of excess weight, lover of efficiency and creator of the F1, said at the time that it was the best drivers’ car ever. It’s not quite – the steering’s too heavy, the brakes too dead-feeling, and it can be quite an intimidating car to drive quickly. But with 627bhp to hurtle a ton, a perfectly central driving position and minimal dimensions, it is still an utterly fabulous thing.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V12, 6064cc Power: 627bhp Top speed: 240mph 0-60: 3.2sec Years: 1994-98

Source : http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/239...tdown_8071.html

Edited October 8, 2009 by Devinda_Z

[Devinda_Z]

Yup..think price is expected to be around the $20k range..which if it is, should be just right. There really isn't anything else as promising at that price point at least in the US market. The Hyundai Genesis coupe is quite a bit more expensive and quite a bit heavier I believe.

Unfortunately it'll be a few fold that price by the time it hits SL roads, won't it? I'm sure there'll be a few coming down onto the hands of a few luckier folk nevertheless.

more than likely - after all the XF made it down just weeks after the UK launch! & now theres a second one in town as well!

hmmm any idea what the performance figures will be like?

i reckon localy it ought to be (assuming its 3 million yen) ought to be just under Rs.10 million on the road price

[Devinda_Z]

It turns out that the FT-86 is going to be sold as the next generation CELICA !

http://issue.imotormag.co.uk/1R4acb2e3c527c0659.cde/page/4

[Devinda_Z]

78 LANCIA FULVIA HF

i reckon that this will be yet another one of those cars that will fall in the "ones that got away" list

@GTAm , has someone picked that one up or is it still languishing and rusting as it has been for the past so many years

[Devinda_Z]

& the countdown continues!

Countdown 70-61

Focus on positions 70 to 61 in our 100 Greatest Drivers' Cars special, from Nissan Skyline to Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup

October 2009

70 NISSAN SKYLINE R33 GT-R

Slightly softer-edged and less aggressive than the subsequent R34, and none the worse for that, the R33 Skyline takes no prisoners. Considerable raw power drives a chassis that shares many characteristics with the current GT-R. Through a compelling mixture of prodigious push and PlayStation-esque all-drive chassis wizardry, it conjures blinding cross-country pace.

Layout: Front-engine, 4wd engine: In-line 6-cyl, 2568cc, turbo Power: 276bhp Top speed: 155mph 0-60: 5.4sec Years: 1997-99

69 KOENIGSEGG CCX

Full-bore acceleration in second and third is a torque and fury fest that would lay waste to a Murciélago LP-640. Phenomenal brakes, too. The chassis has mighty grip and good basic balance but it’s trickier. You don’t have to dig too deeply into your reserves of car control to snap the tail back from a small slide but drifting isn’t advisable. One of the most exciting cars a great deal of money can buy.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive engine: V8, 4700cc, s/c Power: 806bhp Top speed: 241mph 0-60: 3.9sec Years: 2006-

68 TVR SAGARIS

That the Sagaris has eye-watering acceleration is no surprise. The quality of its chassis, on the other hand, is. The Sagaris is actually less sensitive to camber changes under braking than the T-350 it’s based on, and less physical effort is required to hustle it along a poorly surfaced country road. Yet the ride, although a little harsher and ‘more obvious’, hasn’t fallen apart. With the Sagaris, TVR nailed it.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 6-cyl, 3996cc Power: 406bhp Top speed: 185mph 0-60: 3.7sec Years: 2005-07

67 MINI COOPER S

The original ’60s Cooper S would no longer be considered fast against the clock but, subjectively, it feels as if it’s running on Tabasco. There’s a sense that there is no lost motion between your hands and the front wheels. The ride is hopeless, the driving position worse, but the Cooper’s hair-trigger sensitivity to small steering inputs can’t be matched by today’s front drivers. Modest grip but massive fun.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1071cc Power: 70bhp Top speed: 99mph 0-60: 13sec Years: 1963-64

66 FERRARI 250 GTO

This is where Ferrari got serious about road cars. The 250 GTO upped the ante on all fronts, but especially performance, handling and, well it’s impossible to ignore, drop-dead gorgeousness. Designed to win races, the GTO packed a 3-litre V12, an all-syncro 5-speed gearbox and disc brakes all round. It did win, too, taking its class at Le Mans in ’62 and the Nürburgring in ’63 among others.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: V12, 2953cc Power: 300bhp Top speed: 170mph 0-60: 6.0sec Years: 1962-64

65 PORSCHE 993 GT2

Representing the 993 iteration of the 911, the GT2 weighs just 1290kg, 210kg less than the contemporary all-drive Turbo. So it’s seriously quick, wth 0-60 in 3.9sec. But it’s the way the GT2 marries the light, responsive feel of the RS with Turbo-plus-afterburner grunt that’s so delicious and compelling. It’s both extreme and addictive. You marvel at the speed but you revel in the feel of the thing.

Layout: Rear-engine, rear-drive Engine: Flat-six, 3600cc, twin-turbo Power: 430bhp Top speed: 184mph 0-60: 3.9sec Years: 1996-99

64 AUDI RS4

It isn’t so much the way the RS4 hits its savage accelerative stride as the way it sustains it gear after gear – huge, linear thrust meets an intoxicating V8 bellow from the exhausts. Impressive, too, the way the RS4 carries speed through bends, and with so little roll. It steers precisely but isn’t edgy. For once, the 4wd isn’t intrusive, it just seems to extend the reach of the remarkable performance.

Layout: Front-engine, 4wd Engine: V8, 4163cc Power: 414bhp Top speed: 155mph 0-60: 4.5sec Years: 2006-08

63 PEUGEOT 306 RALLYE

The combined force of the 306 Rallye’s simplicity, handling, ride, slick six-speed gearbox and zesty engine far outweigh its few shortcomings. As an everyday proposition, it’s fast, fun and, thanks to a great ride and decent refinement, easy to live with. But it’s also one of the great drives, irrespective of price. Six-speed zip with attitude meets a front-drive chassis of extraordinary quality. Brilliant.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1998cc Power: 167bhp Top speed: 137mph 0-60: 6.9sec Years: 1998-99

62 BMW E92 M3

It’s the sheer depth of the M3’s talent that’s so remarkable. Its point-to-point pace is dazzling but, more than that, it makes the process feel special. Partly it’s down to the free-revving fury of its V8. But it’s also the accurate, agile, finely balanced and biddable chassis. Faint echos of the original (E30) M3’s precisely adjustable cornering balance can be detected. And if calling the angles with the tail seems a bit gratuitous, the M3’s body control is so remarkably flab-free, it’s hard not to indulge.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: V8, 3999cc Power: 414bhp Top speed: 155mph 0-60: 4.8sec Years: 2007-

61 RENAULTSPORT CLIO 200 CUP

It’s when the road starts asking questions that would cool the pace of lesser hatches that the Clio 200 Cup comes into its own, remaining unfazed and continuing to cover the ground at an astonishing lick while maintaining a fine balance between sheer speed and throttle-induced entertainment. The now genuinely punchy Renault has a lithe, sinewy athleticism and a renewed sense of fun.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1998cc Power: 197bhp Top speed: 141mph 0-60: 6.6sec Years: 2009-

Source : http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/239...be071e40617aa96

[Devinda_Z]

Countdown 60-51

60 LAMBORGHINI DIABLO 6.0 VT

How can something so big, powerful and difficult to see out of be so generous, forgiving and easy to drive? The gearchange is almost laughably cooperative, the chassis balance peachy. But such is the torque of the V12, you can leave it in sixth all the time and still have more performance than you would ever need. And if the noise doesn’t stop people in their tracks, the shape surely will.

Layout: Mid-engine, 4wd Engine: V12, 5992cc Power: 550bhp Top speed: 200mph 0-60: 3.8sec Years: 2000-02

59 GUMPERT APOLLO

The unstickable supercar? Well, you’ll be going some when you find out. Faster round the West Circuit than everything bar the Caparo, the Apollo is blessed with incredible traction and absolute body control. So secure does it feel that dizzying speeds and the ease with which they’re achieved can become routine. Want a wake-up call? Drive it on a bumpy B-road. Basically it’s a roadgoing race-car.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V8, 4163cc, twin-turbo Power: 690bhp Top speed: 220mph 0-60: 3.0sec Years: 2005-

58 FERRARI ENZO

The Enzo’s naturally-aspirated, 650bhp V12 screams with the nape-tingling intensity of the single seater’s. It’s enough to convince you that it’s an even more serious attempt to recreate a fleeting ‘taste of F1’ than the Enzo’s predecessor, the F50, was. Everything appears to be designed to give the driver maximum input and gratification. Still one of the most exciting cars on the planet.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V12, 5998cc Power: 650bhp Top speed: 217mph 0-60: 3.5sec Years: 2002-05

57 ALFA ROMEO ALFASUD

A sea-change for Alfa, the ’Sud made a splash for being front-wheel drive, styled by Giugiaro and powered by a small boxer engine. Not especially quick in a straight line, it’s nevertheless mesmerising to drive with a smooth, free-spinning sewing machine of an engine, exquisite steering and miraculous levels of grip for something with such skinny tyres. Raised the bar for all subsequent front-drivers.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: Flat-4, 1286cc Power: 75bhp Top speed: 105mph 0-60: 13sec Years: 1971-89

56 JAGUAR E-TYPE

The abiding impression left by the E-type is of the straight-six’s deep lungs and mechanical purity (the 4.2 S1 is best), unassisted steering that’s heavy but dripping with feel and a chassis that’s as eager to forgive as it is to drift. It’s all very driver-centric. Palm the stubby, leather-frocked gearlever forward into first, ease out the meaty, progressive clutch and the Jag trickles off at idle without a murmur of dissent. Not a car you want to take by the scruff and hurl at a corner, but its effortless pace and good manners are beguiling.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 6-cyl, 4235cc Power: 265bhp Top speed: 145mph 0-60: 7.0sec Years: 1964-68

55 RENAULT APLINE A610

France’s plastic-bodied answer to the Porsche 911 is simply too quirky for most tastes. The tacky interior and velour trim didn’t do much for sporting ambience when it was new and seem naffer still today. The striking styling and beefcake performance have aged more gracefully, though, but the heavy rear engine means fairly raw 911-esque handling traits and either a big dose of skill or caution in the wet. Get it right, though, and it’s a characterful and utterly absorbing drive.

Layout: Rear-engine, rear-drive Engine: V6, 2975cc, turbo Power: 250bhp Top speed: 160mph 0-60: 5.4sec Years: 1992-96

54 LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO

A decent straight and a couple of fast sweepers is enough. After that, resistance is futile. The Lambo’s speed across the ground and feel-good repertoire are all consuming, the full-on supercar experience. Thumb the ‘Corsa’ button on the centre console to open up the throats of the exhaust pipes, crack the windows down a few inches and indulge: supercar heaven is but a few throttle-blips away.

Layout: Mid-engine, 4wd Engine: V10, 5204cc Power: 552bhp (LP560) Top speed: 202mph 0-60: 3.7sec (LP560) Years: 2003-

53 LOTUS 2-ELEVEN

The supercharged Elise-based track- day special has a power/weight ratio of 338bhp/ton. The upshot is that it feels almost hilariously rapid in a straight line, but it’s the way it corners and stops that takes your breath away. As in an Elise, the front of the car feels light and readable – only more so. It allows you lean on a phenomenally grippy, poised chassis without fear of any unexpected nasties.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1796cc, s/c Power: 252bhp Top speed: 150mph 0-60: 3.8sec Years: 2007-

52 PORSCHE BOXSTER S

Porsche’s biggest thrills may be 911-shaped, but the sweeter moves belong to the Boxster. Its chassis responses feel amazingly pure and accurate, its damping beautifully judged. This makes it easier to get a feel for its point of balance, that narrow band of neutrality just after understeer stops and before oversteer begins. The Boxster tells you precisely how hard you can go.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: Flat-6, 3436cc Power: 306bhp Top speed: 170mph 0-60: 5.3sec Years: 1999-

51 SUBARU IMPREZA STI

Because you can use nearly all of the STI’s more than generous performance most of the time without scaring yourself silly, the effectiveness quotient is off the scale. There’s an immediacy and urgency that draws you in. Blistering mid-range pace, shedloads of all-drive grip, even a decent helping of on-the-limit adjustability. Even more so if it’s a hardcore Scooby like a Spec C.

Layout: Front-engine, 4wd Engine: Flat-6, 2457cc, turbo Power: 276bhp Top speed: 158mph 0-60: 5.3sec Years: 2005-07

Source : http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/239...be071e40617aa96

[GTAm]

i reckon that this will be yet another one of those cars that will fall in the "ones that got away" list

@GTAm , has someone picked that one up or is it still languishing and rusting as it has been for the past so many years

Yes a pal of mine picked it up. Work is painfully slow though with the tinker not doing much of tinkering at all

[GTAm]

This Evo list keeps getting crazier by the day!

The Renault Alpine A610 ahead of the Mc F1 ?????

I think I'm not going to buy an Evo mag again Or do they have some wired criteria that we are not aware of??

[Supra_Natural]

Yes a pal of mine picked it up. Work is painfully slow though with the tinker not doing much of tinkering at all

You guys do have more than your fair share of slow tinker issues don't you?

[Devinda_Z]

This Evo list keeps getting crazier by the day!

The Renault Alpine A610 ahead of the Mc F1 ?????

I think I'm not going to buy an Evo mag again Or do they have some wired criteria that we are not aware of??

as long as the Z appears toward the top end of this list, i'm happy!

[Devinda_Z]

50 PORSCHE 968 CLUB SPORT

The end of the line for Porsche’s enduring front-engined family. By this time, the 968 (formerly 944) had been honed to something approaching dynamic perfection and, in stripped-down Club Sport guise, it’s better still. If any transaxle Porsche deserves its place in the hall of fame, this is surely the one. Not as desirable as a 911, but there may never be a better handling Porsche.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 2990cc Power: 240bhp Top speed: 149mph 0-60: 6.1sec Years: 1993-95

49 PORSCHE CARRERA GT

From the moment you depress the clutch pedal, slot first and feed in the power, you immediately sense its intensity, its focus. The V10 is so responsive to throttle inputs, you don’t so much drive the CGT as play it like an instrument. It jiggles over bumps, but when you ask everything of the front-end the distractions fade, leaving you with an explicit flow of information. Bites at the limit, mind…

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V10, 5733cc Power: 604bhp Top speed: 205mph 0-60: 3.8sec Years: 2004-06

48 HONDA NSX

Provided you can get comfortable in the NSX (not guaranteed if you’re over six foot or object to having the steering wheel in your lap) you’re in for a good time. Perfectly reflecting the two sides of Honda’s character, it melds hardcore driving virtues with ease of use and impeccable engineering. The frenzied VTEC and brilliantly crisp dynamics more than offset the slightly inert electric power steering.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V6, 3179cc Power: 276bhp Top speed: 168mph 0-60: 5.5sec Years: 1990-2005

47 NOBLE M400

Here representing all of the M12-generation Nobles, the M400 drives like a high-energy Esprit. Seismic power delivers a gale-force rush of boost from behind and yet even if deployed mid-corner it never threatens to understeer, the front end maintaining grip and sensitivity despite the forces acting on it. Amazingly friendly at the back given the midships engine location and pared-back, whip-crack chassis. Flawed driving position, but enough pace and ability to embarrass exotics.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V6, 2968cc, twin-turbo Power: 425bhp Top speed: 185mph 0-60: 3.5sec Years: 2004-06

46 PORSCHE 911 TURBO

The 911 Turbo has always been a special car in the 911 range, with a unique set of talents and characterisics. Representing the breed, we’ve selected the 993 version, which has almost all of the speed and ability of the later iterations, but with a shot more character and sex appeal.

The real joy of the 993 Turbo is the astonishing reach of its ability; the relentless neck-twanging acceleration, the inimitably hungry and hollow exhaust note and the almost spookily communicative steering. And it remains one of the finest examples of precision engineering on four driven wheels. Peerless all-weather point-to-point ability. Formidable and beautiful, and still dropping jaws to the floor.

Layout: Rear-engine, 4wd Engine: Flat-6, 3600cc Power: 408bhp Top speed: 180mph 0-60: 4.3sec Years: 1995-98

45 MERCEDES CLK63 BLACK

Quite simply the most thrilling and involving Merc in years (and no, we haven’t forgotten the SLR McLaren). The Black is owner of one of the most playful and placeable rear ends ever. Just turn in and, when you’re ready, give the throttle a nudge. A tight LSD, super-stiff frame and taut suspension means an armful of oppo is yours for the taking. It’s pretty fine in a straight line, too, and can even be driven neatly and precisely. But not in the wet. Oh yes, and it’s got great Recaros, and sounds wicked too.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: V8, 6208cc Power: 500bhp Top speed: 186mph 0-60: 4.2sec Years: 2007-

44 ASTON VANTAGE V12

We were beginning to doubt Aston had the know-how to deliver an absolutely solid-gold drivers’ car. And then along came the V12 Vantage. The small body, big engine combo is tempting enough, but it’s the way the V12V rewards so richly on so many levels – communicative steering, indulgent handing balance, feelful brakes – that makes it the most memorable Aston of the current generation.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: V12, 5935cc Power: 510bhp Top speed: 190mph 0-60: 4.4sec Years: 2009-

43 TOYOTA MR2 ROADSTER

Everything a Toyota isn’t (usually). Impractical, fluid and fun, it’s enormously playful and exploitable close to the limit without ever becoming intimidating. That’s chiefly because, at 975kg, it weighs bugger all, so 138bhp is adequate and the chassis has a lightness of touch that not even the mk2 MX-5 can match. Want to find out about mid-engine/rear-drive handling? The MR2 Roadster drives like a slightly more civilised Elise, and praise doesn’t come much higher than that.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1794cc Power: 138bhp Top speed: 130mph 0-60: 7.2sec Years: 2000-06

42 TVR GRIFFITH

A big engine in a small, light car is always an exciting mix (any wheelspin on a wet road can be a little too exciting). In the dry and provided you’ve opted for the sensible 50 front/55 profile rear tyre option, it’s hugely entertaining, involving and fast. Front engine balance means you can indulge in primeval tyre-smoking power-slides out of roundabouts without too much trouble…

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: V8, 4988cc Power: 320bhp Top speed: 167mph 0-60: 4.8sec Years: 1993-2001

41 PORSCHE CAYMAN S

Perhaps even more so than the Boxster, the Cayman is arguably the sweetest handling of all current Porsches if not the most beguiling or exciting. Sat centrally in the wheelbase, you’re perfectly placed to make the most of the mid-engined layout and charismatic, torque-rich flat-six engine. Sweet, sweet steering allied to a forgiving chassis and supple suspension make it hugely exploitable. The way it takes the sting out of rough roads has to be experienced to be believed.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: Flat-6, 3436cc Power: 315bhp Top speed: 172mph 0-60: 5.2sec Years: 2006-

Source : http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/239...tdown_5041.html

[Devinda_Z]

40 ARIEL ATOM

It feels instantly, overwhelmingly, paralysingly rapid, insane supercharger thrust (in the 300) and seemingly zero inertia piling on speed so quickly your brain scrambles to keep up. It has a much more softly sprung and reactive chassis than you might expect – vastly different to a Caterham’s and not so easy to tame. Grab the tiger by the tail and hang on tight, though, and you’ll have a riot.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1998cc, s/c Power: 300bhp Top speed: 155mph 0-60: 3.3sec Years: 1999-

39 FORD FOCUS RS MK2

For a car with 300bhp coursing through its front wheels, the Focus RS feels supremely well tied down, with tons of grip and vanishingly small amounts of pitch and roll. Anyone who tells you it doesn’t torque-steer is fibbing, but that’s part of the fun. The charismatic-sounding five-pot turbo motor is more than capable of serving up crushing levels of urge, but it’s the way the Focus marries grunt, grip and poise that entertains and gives it such remarkable real-world pace.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 5-cyl, 2522cc, turbo Power: 300bhp Top speed: 163mph 0-60: 5.9sec Years: 2009-

38 PORSCHE 997 CARRERA S

Representing all ‘regular’ Carreras, the 997 is easier to drive than earlier 911s. But it’s no less formidable for that. The steering may have shed some of the extraordinary communicative abilities of previous generations, but it’s only slightly disappointing by its own standards. Few cars offer such an invigorating and involving time behind the wheel, and those that do usually have six-figure price tags.

Layout: Rear-engine, rear-drive Engine: Flat-6, 3800cc Power: 380bhp Top speed: 188mph 0-60: 4.6sec Years: 2004-

37 PORSCHE 964 RS

Arguably the last truly ‘hard’ 911, the 964 RS has a fairly uncompromising work ethic. Take it by the scruff and it attacks roads that would make lesser cars cower. Digs hard and deep into fast bends, nose bobbing sharply but minutely as stiff suspension and sticky rubber conspire to harness the tail-heavy masses. You’ll pile on speed through sheer tenacity. And savour the fact this is an air-cooled 911. The induction roar, fan whine and cam drive scream are all part of the potent mix.

Layout: Rear-engine, rear-drive Engine: Flat-6, 3600cc Power: 260bhp Top speed: 162mph 0-60: 5.3sec Years: 1990-92

36 LOTUS EXIGE

We’d take the mk1 – flawed but rather fabulous. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it drives like a noisier and faster Elise. The power’s there all right but it’s peaky and hard to reach. Keep the engine spinning above 5000rpm and there’s shove aplenty. The chassis is quite something, too; all of the Elise’s precision and agility allied to barely believable levels of grip in the dry. Makes a brilliant trackday car.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line, 4-cyl, 1796cc Power: 192bhp Top speed: 136mph 0-60: 4.6sec Years: 2000-01

35 MITSUBISHI EVO Evo IX FQ-360

Best of the last-generation Evos is still one of the quickest ways from where you are to where you want to be. The way it fuses supercar pace with advanced all-drive traction is remarkable but to get the best out of it requires a brutally single-minded approach. The harder you drive, the more it likes it.

Layout: Front-engine, 4wd Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1997cc, turbo Power: 366bhp Top speed: 157mph 0-60: 3.9sec Years: 2005-07

34 LOTUS ESPRIT V8 SPORT 350

Criminally underrated. The V8 is super light and compact so you have the benefit of a mid-engine car without the mass of a big engine. Absolutely brilliant balance adjustable by a tweak of the foot and the merest touch of the steering makes it one of the most involving drivers’ cars ever. Light overall too, which gives it good performance. Shame there isn’t anything like it today.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V8, 3506cc, twin-turbo Power: 350bhp Top speed: 175mph 0-60: 4.3sec Years: 1999-2000

33 LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO LP670-4 SV

The SV (representing all Murciélagos) is a savagely, intimidatingly fast car. It hammers so much immediacy and raw excitement into the usual supercar mix, your heart nearly leaps out of your chest. The noise, the bite, the response, the grip and braking power – all require rapid mental recalibration to make much sense of, they’re delivered with such unfiltered honesty and intensity. Awesome.

Layout: Mid-engine, 4wd Engine: V12, 6496cc Power: 661bhp Top speed: 212mph 0-60: 3.2sec Years: 2009-

32 SUBARU IMPREZA P1

There’s an honesty and coherence to the ultimate old-shape Scooby that never fails to stun. You climb in, you drive fast, you grin until your face aches. It’s all as natural as breathing. Imperturbable in its control, the P1 annihilates the sort of road that would scare you in a powerful rear-driver. Scorching ground-covering ability and everyday practicality. and fully deserves its iconic status. One of the great performance bargains of the ‘90s.

Layout: Front-engine, 4wd Engine: Flat-4, 1994cc, turbo Power: 276bhp Top speed: 150mph 0-60: 4.9sec Years: 2000-01

31 LOTUS EVORA

The most important car for Lotus – and for fans of British performance cars – since the Elise. Fortunately for all of us, it’s every bit as good as we dared hope it would be, with all of the Elise’s intimacy and abundant feel translated into a genuinely rapid and refined baby supercar. As we found in our group test (evo 132), drive an Evora after you've driven a Cayman, and it’s as if you've just taken off a 75lb rucksack. The Evora feels that light, that delicate, and the steering’s so full of feel, it’s as if layers of filtering have been stripped away. Simply irresistible.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V6, 3456cc Power: 276bhp Top speed: 162mph 0-60: 5.1sec Years: 2009-

[Devinda_Z]

30 RENAULT CLIO WILLIAMS

Great to drive for at least two important reasons: one, it has a 2-litre engine that’s lusty, revvy and sounds good; two, the chassis is the fully-rounded product and gives the driver just about every option save full-blooded oversteer when pressing on. Not only does the Clio Willy make gold wheels and decals look good (no mean achievement), it delivers a steer crammed with memorable moments – from a lusty thump in the back to considerable on-the-limit finesse.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1988cc Power: 150bhp Top speed: 121mph 0-60: 7.6sec Years: 1993-96

29 HONDA NSX TYPE R

Lighter, harder, faster and hornier than the standard item, the NSX-R could have been the perfect riposte to the 911 GT3 and Ferrari 360 CS. Alas it never made it to the UK. Traction off the line is stunning, the rifle-bolt action of the six-speed ’box amazingly fast and accurate. Gun it – letting the green and red shift-lights set into the rev-counter alert you to the proximity of the 8000rpm red line – and you’re pressed towards the bulkhead by one sustained surge after another.

It’s hard to recall steering that resolves information about the road surface more organically than that of the NSX-R. It plays out like a relief map, just the right amount of weight and damping smoothing off the rough edges. The confidence it gives you is astonishing. Much like the car itself.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V6, 3179cc Power: 276bhp Top speed: 168mph 0-60: 4.4sec Years: 2002-03

28 PORSCHE 911 2.7 RS

The original and in many ways still the best. Just 210 horsepower but just 980 kilos. The light engine and light five-speed gearbox means the rearward weight bias is similar as a percentage, but a much lower overall figure. That allows lower spring rates which means the balance can be exploited via unassisted steering which is sooo sensitive. Still the most involving of the rear-engine Porsches for all these reasons.

Layout: Rear-engine, rear-drive Engine: Flat-6, 2687cc Power: 210bhp Top speed: 150mph 0-60: 5.6sec Years: 1972-73

27 BMW M3 CSL

The ultimate E46-generation M3. Thumb the CSL’s M Track button and, as with all the best sorted rear-drive chassis, its balance moves to the point where it rests on a broad line drawn between helm and throttle inputs. Then the CSL starts to flow at speed in a way you simply wouldn’t believe. And so immediate and so abundant is the CSL’s response to the throttle between 2000 and 7000rpm, so scalp-prickling its yowl and so scarce the time it takes the fully wound-up SMG to shift through the engine’s workload, it makes your regular M3 feel comparatively tame.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 6-cyl, 3246cc Power: 355bhp Top speed: 155mph 0-60: 5.3sec Years: 2003-04

26 BMW E30 M3

This is, quite simply, one of the best cars BMW has ever made. And that’s largely because it was genuinely a product of the Motorsport division, with a run of road cars produced to satisfy homologation requirements. Its terrific, raspy twin-cam engine revved enough to be exciting. It was also lighter than any of the models that followed and better for it – as always.

You’ll have little appreciation of how good a saloon’s steering can be – or how adjustable its cornering balance – unless you’ve driven a well-cared- for E30 M3. It’s a talented track car made good for the road, pure and simple: incisive, involving and deeply rewarding. Few cars feel as supple and naturally fluent, while balance on the limit is extraordinary. Respect.

Layout: Front-engine, rear-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 2302cc Power: 220bhp Top speed: 144mph 0-60: 6.7sec Years: 1986-90

25 RENAULT CLIO V6

The impossibly squat Clio rewards long-term relationships with real charisma and great entertainment. Handling that can bite (especially the mk1) only adds to the character. Maybe it isn’t quick enough, it aquaplanes something rotten, the gearchange is mediocre and it has only two seats. But just look and listen. It’s a miniature exotic. And once you learn to relax with the car, don’t try to over-drive it and let the engine’s fine flexibility do the work, the rewards come in torrents.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V6, 2946cc Power: 255bhp Top speed: 153mph 0-60: 5.8sec Years: 1999-2005

24 FERRARI 288 GTO

Right up there with the Lamborghini Miura in the all-time drool parade, the 288 GTO is a serious piece of kit, too, with a composite body and longitudinally slung proto-F40 engine. Saddled up with a brace of IHI turbos, the 2.8-litre ‘quattrovalvole’ V8 develops a tidy 400bhp (or 140bhp/litre) – enough, before the Porsche 959 came along, to make the 189mph GTO the fastest production car in the world in the mid-80s. On a really difficult stretch of road, its lithe chassis and feelful steering make it a match for any subsequent Ferrari supercar, F40, F50 and Enzo included.

Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive Engine: V8, 2855cc, twin-turbo Power: 400bhp Top speed: 189mph 0-60: 4.9sec Years: 1984-85

23 Peugeot 205 GTI

If you appreciate the niceties of lift-off oversteer, this is the hot hatch that keeps on giving. Just one word of warning – the wheelbase is very short, so better not let the situation develop unless you’re ready for it! When you are, the steering and engine are so quick to respond that you can indulge with confidence. Lightning gearchange and meaty steering feel add to the already high involvement factor. Extraordinarily agile, too. Not for the faint-hearted in the wet but little else from this era can claim to be a more challenging/rewarding steer, though the more composed Clio Williams runs it close. The little Pug is an all-time great and fabulous fun.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1905cc Power: 130bhp Top speed: 124mph 0-60: 7.9sec Years: 1988-91

22 HONDA INTEGRA

What an engine: 187bhp at 8000rpm, 8400rpm red line, scalp-prickling noise. And what a chassis. The Integra R is one of those rare cars that doesn’t have to sacrifice control for comfort. Its firmness keeps its sticky Bridgestone Potenzas planted to the tarmac but doesn’t allow sharp inputs to upset the body’s composure. And when you do breach the limit (intentionally or otherwise) the chassis stays with you rather than hanging you out to dry. Throw in steering with a surprising amount of weight and feel, and a deliciously short and precise gearshift, and it all adds up to something very special indeed. In a word: sensational.

Layout: Front-engine, front-drive Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1797cc Power: 187bhp Top speed: 145mph 0-60: 6.2sec Years: 1996-2000

21 NISSAN GT-R

It’s the automotive Terminator, ruthless in its pursuit of speed, a brutal taker-aparter of supercar reputations (just ask the Veyron, which couldn’t catch it on testing Welsh roads, evo 134). But this is car and driver in harmony: each aware of exactly what the other is up to and able to respond accordingly. Driving it is a partnership and that’s what makes the GT-R a truly great drivers’ car.

Layout: Front-engine, 4wd Engine: V6, 3799cc, twin-turbo Power: 478bhp Top speed: 193mph 0-60: 3.9sec Years: 2008-

[Devinda_Z]

....is it just me or are there not a helluva lot of Porsches on this list??

and i'm officially worried now given that the Z is yet to show up and there are only 20% more cars to go... needless to say i'd be chuffed to bits if it makes the top 10 ,but i'll be gutted if it missed the bus entirely ...this late in the list means a bit of an all or nothing scenario