What is the best handling car you have ever driven?

[flyingcarhands]

And how did it compare to your VW?
I have test driven the Golf GTI and needless to say, I want one.
However, I wouldn't say its the best handler I have ever driven, it's just now I am an old fart with kids so need some practicalities and outright speed is not the only criteria for buying a car anymore.
Best I have driven would be a tough call between a 1999 Mazda MX5 and a 1999 Honda Integra Type R.
Handling is also a subjective thing (stopwatches, g-meters and racetracks aside).

[Grover]

The best handling car that I have ever been in (by far) is my modified 2005 350Z Track. The Golf, by comparison feels soft and sloppy (almost dangerous and incapable). However, the trouble with cars that handle like go-karts is that they can be very uncomfortable for long distances (especially on our "goat track" roads here in Qld). The Golf is a nicer place to be when you just want to relax.

The Zed is a bit too hard-core for me these days as I am getting on a bit and have a preferrence for comfort although I still like to take her out on Sundays for a quick blast (when I am in the mood). The New Golf R (or even a GTI) sounds like a good compromise to me.

[goodfella]

Lamborghini Murcielago for me... sure it was a mates and I was being EXTRA CAREFUL, but a quick spin through the twisities around Warrandyte (vic) definitely showed how well tuned the beast is!

[Yevvy]

Lamborghini Murcielago for me... sure it was a mates and I was being EXTRA CAREFUL, but a quick spin through the twisities around Warrandyte (vic) definitely showed how well tuned the beast is!

Holy crap, a lambo?!!

For me would be Mischa's looow GT :)

[jamesatfish]

On a track the best I've driven would be the 997 GT3 - the grip levels are astounding (particularly with R-Spec tyres standard from the factory and some negative camber dialled in), the chassis is amazingly communicative and the steering is the perfect compromise between weight, feedback and accuracy.

You need to bring your A-Game to get the best out of the car but it's so rewarding when you get things right.

It's not really fair making the comparison to the VWs I've owned - the Polo is light and the stiff suspension and sticky tyres give great corner speeds, but it's a blunt instrument in comparison to something like the GT3. You can't control slip angles with the throttle (ref FWD) and beyond the limits of traction it's just an understeering mess.

That said, the Polo offers a pretty great bang-for-buck; I sold my track-prepped Boxster S for the Polo and I've not yet been to a track and wished I had the old car back.

[thestu]

B4 twin turbo liberty and an evo 8

[Dubdabest]

This is only my second car and I haven't driven any mods or track car but am quite happy with my Jetta TFSI. Comfy enough for the shopping trip (though hate Sydney potholes) but zippy enough for little spirited drive now and then... Once I beat an Audi A4 2.0 TFSI quattro even through a corner! My wheels were squeeling while the bast... had quattro working but I beat 'em!! :banana:

[DGen]

F355 Spider. My ex boss has one, got to drive it regularly until i quit.

Front end was well planted and the rear was lively enough to be fun but planted enough to warn you when you were getting close to the limit. The only thing better than its handling, was the sound of the engine... 8500 rpm was hit often, and i spent most of my time seeking tunnels to accelerate through.

At 22, driving a Fazz was amazing. The first time i drove it i remember i couldn't stop sweating and i was hardly pushing it.

After the first few times though, it was a joy to drive.

[AGO41T]

charade! best handling car made

[evorobin]

996 Carrera. Traction was superb :cool:

[G-rig]

bugatti veyron

[jamesatfish]

bugatti veyron

Best car you've driven (would surely be a no-brainer for me if I ever had the chance to drive one) or best handling (or both)?

I've always thought the Veyron's handling would suffer from the car's weight and AWD drivetrain, but this is just from reading / watching others who have driven one. Does it really feel like that to drive or does the power overcome those issues?

[goodfella]

actually, I'd like to revise mine, it was all the renters i've had. They were sooo good I never had to pay an excess or lose my deposit! They just stick when you throw it in!

[G-rig]

Best car you've driven (would surely be a no-brainer for me if I ever had the chance to drive one) or best handling (or both)?

I've always thought the Veyron's handling would suffer from the car's weight and AWD drivetrain, but this is just from reading / watching others who have driven one. Does it really feel like that to drive or does the power overcome those issues?

Just kidding sorry, I can't back that up :P.

Best handling I've driven would have to be my R32: H&R street performance c/overs, H&R Sways and Haldex Gen2.

Also had a DC2R that went pretty well, didn't suffer the same wheelspin as the GTI's and pretty balanced. Had aftermarket suspension too, but not sure what it was.

[jamesatfish]

Just kidding sorry, I can't back that up :P.

Best handling I've driven would have to be my R32: H&R street performance c/overs, H&R Sways and Haldex Gen2.

No worries - I'm sure someone on this forum previously mentioned that they drove a Veyron as part of the Melbourne F1 events - just figured that might have been you.

[G-rig]

No worries - I'm sure someone on this forum previously mentioned that they drove a Veyron as part of the Melbourne F1 events - just figured that might have been you.

Nah wasn't me, I wish!

[mr gee]

In '76, I was driving through this bunch of tight ywisting turns whist chatting with a friend and just happened to glance at the speedo and I was taking the turns at 50mpg (80kmh). It was a Lamborghini Muira SV.

[h100vw]

My old Golf GTI G60 with the factory suspension. The best compromise in suspension ever, ruined by me, in pursuit of the unattainable. I should have just replaced the shocks.

Gavin

[G-rig]

My old Golf GTI G60 with the factory suspension. The best compromise in suspension ever, ruined by me, in pursuit of the unattainable. I should have just replaced the shocks.

Gavin

Or you could have gone with a good quality street performance coilover.. there are a lot that ride similar to stock with increased handling..

[h100vw]

I did all that and more and just turned it into a car you wouldn't want to drive everyday.

The factory suspension did everything just right, seriously you couldn't have made it better without sacrificing something.

I have driven enough VW group cars since 1990, to know when I have been in a good one.

Gavin

[fredstar]

Driven a 2009 M3 a few times which is awesome. Getting back into my GTI feels like an old Laser Ghia!!

[bazzle]

My RS2000 Ford Escort :banana: Memories only now, one I should of kept :frown:

My SLK Merc was pretty good but could bite at times, best currently is my R32 :bowdown:

Very hard to really compare them I suppose, you forget the bad and never have them together to compare all at once:cool:

Bazzle

[G-rig]

My RS2000 Ford Escort :banana: Memories only now, one I should of kept :frown:


Surely those wouldnt handle as well as any new GTI?

You should have kept all the flannelette shirts as well :-D
(Just kidding, they look fairly unique & tough, was expecting a torana or something).

[gerhard]

My Fiat 1100D Riviera was the most neutral and chuckable car I ever had. Michelin X tyres on 14" wheels - the wheels had to be 14s to fit over the massive finned alloy brake drums, truly fantastic in their day. The car lacked power, but you never needed to use those brilliant brakes for most corners, just keep it floored and turn. The body lean was a bit alarming until you got used to it, and knew it would just hang on and on. Wet or dry. :driver:

It was fantastic for the drive-in as well. Seats folded flat so you could sit against the back seet with heaps of room :) for anything....

[vectorskink]

My Jetta! :banana:

[chewy7]

My RS2000 Ford Escort :banana: Memories only now, one I should of kept :frown:





Holy smokes, Is that the Group B rally car ??!! Got pics? :)

[Robby K]

Holy smokes, Is that the Group B rally car ??!! Got pics? :)


Too many zero's there to be a group B car;) But a cool car nonetheless !!

[stephen8512]

R34 GTR for me

[sir_camel]

Would have to be my old 205 GTi. Go kart on rails.

[SilverBug]

Whilst my GTI is so much better inside and engineering and quality is fantastic for money, my old 04 STi was an amazing car, so much grip and power I notice now how good that thing was in the wet, but it's interior was so far behind GTI.

[CatonaPC©]

My mate's Mazda MX5 would have to have been the best handling car I've ever driven, but before then a FIAT 124 Sport was a delight. My father's 1965 FIAT 2300 Station Wagon was quite a respectable road holding car for its time, but the Alfa Romeo 33 4WD a friend owned was quite outstanding.

[jettapilot]

My Jetta! :banana:

I agree. Mine too.

[G-rig]

My mate's Mazda MX5 would have to have been the best handling car I've ever driven, but before then a FIAT 124 Sport was a delight. My father's 1965 FIAT 2300 Station Wagon was quite a respectable road holding car for its time, but the Alfa Romeo 33 4WD a friend owned was quite outstanding.

I didn't get to drive, but a mates MX-5 2F full race car would have been the best thing i've been in, was like a go kart - full roll cage and the works.. amazing..!

Ps. My dad actually had a really nice 124 sport and dropped in a bigger engine from the sedan, can't remember but would have handled well.. no power steering though.

[CatonaPC©]

I forgot to mention one other car. My own! A 1982 Series I Datsun Bluebird TR-X. Absolutely outstanding handling and fantastic Australian designed brakes (so good, they made their way into the US Corvette). Sadly, the Bluebird had an appalling engine that didn't make full use of the car's well sorted chassis. Nissan then ruined everything further in the Series II TR-X by softening up the suspension and thinning down the rear sway bar.

[bazzle]

Holy smokes, Is that the Group B rally car ??!! Got pics? :)

I wish.
Same as this white one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy9LxGXxgEs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrJzKhkYIGs&feature=related
Didnt quite have this much power though http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meC3-28vG10&feature=related
I had 5 Ford Escorts including a MK1 1600 sport. (Similar to Mexico in UK)

Bazzle

[whplash]

Mates JCW Mini Cooper S (turbo not supercharged). Just like a go kart! Might not have the straight line speed of alot of performance cars, but the fun you have through the twisties is exceptional. And with a pod filter it has great intake noise and bov sounds.

[dubbed]

996 Carrera4. A bit heavy but the chassis is superb.

[static1800]

does a go kart count?

[Nathan_B]

havnt driven a huge range of cars, as im always sceptical of driving other peoples cars.. just like im not one for giving my keys out often..

Only Ferrari ive had the chance to drive was a mates old mans F355 - we were P platers at the time, police gave us the thumbs up (5 years ago before hoons became active in the media!) His old man took me to the top of falls creek in it, doing 140km on corners i would feel confident doing 60-80 in the R !

Had a go in a E46 M3 with bilstein pss9's and other goodies, the linear power was nice as i was glued in the seat!

[Swallowtail]

An open wheeler Formula 1600 around Brands Hatch back in the 80s. Unbelievable amount of fun. Not a huge amount of power, but sitting 3 inches off the ground open to the world in a car that weighed about 400kg pulling 100mph+ down the back straight felt like lots given that at the time I was driving a 1300cc Ford Escort LOL.

[JohnnyG]

My MINI Cooper S just loves the corners
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/09/271798534_vbhGBM-1.jpg

[Lima]

My old Scalextric cars. Those things handled like they were on rails!

[gavs]

RenaultSport Megane R26.

Was in the market a few months back for a new car, somehow ended up buying a house instead??:dunno: Took a regular RS megane for an hour long test drive out the back of warrandyte and was hugely impressed, the sheer cornering grip of the car made me car sick and my eyes hurt!! But the R26 was was on another level, about 100kgs lighter, LSD and even better seats, phenominal up Mount Dandenong Tourist road....

[Mr Messy]

Maserati GranSport. Heaps of grip and let go predictably as well.
Loved the Cambiocorsa box too. Made it very easy to acclimatise.

[woosh73]

I usually find any rental car probably handles the best , i find when i rented a renault van it only stepped out a few times but when applying the brakes at the right time it would come good.

Aurion - their fast especially when it's not yours.


Escort 1973 - panel van - 3 speed , 1 , 3 & 4th . it was a demon, It would handle all corners at the same speed ( speedo was dodgy and used to stick at 130kmh ) .

Serious note - EVO 1 - Raw ballsy and back to basics , no esp, ( ended upgrading the motor to an EVO 3 due to slight cam problem with the original motor. rock hard suspension , it was great out on mallala with ADVANS.

[static1800]

Got to say it, but my old mk2 gti that my parents now have. They put some Bilsteins in it the thing is on rails. Best chassis vw have ever made.

[Brisben]

Honda Integra type R all day long

[chris.]

from being in almost all the porsches and a few ferrari's and lambo and that of like and racing most of my life i would have to say the best handeling for the money was my old 2L sport suprisingly
it beat every thing from lotus exige (very close) & ate things like wrx's, evo's & m3's (e36)
and im shore if it had the chance to if would have been up the arse of the top sports cars

hmmmmmmmmmmm dam i miss it :( i will have to build another one day

[VWindahouse]

The latest model MX5 with suspension mods was great! Natural turn in was amazingly effortless!

[mikepologti]

not to sound bias but my current car , every car before it has handled like a wet turd in comparison. then again my previous cars werent exactly cornering material hell when i look back now they werent even driving material.

[WABIT]

fezza 456GT was first, felt rigid like a race car but nice fat tyres and the gearbox was insane!

and dads R32 skyline was second, just because you could skate 3rd gear crossing 4 lanes at 120kph with ease gutter to gutter, was scary after a few turns though counter steering backwards and forwards, but very responsive and the coilovers handled great

dom

[anthony]

My current Jetta is my 7th car,and its handling is just superb.

[MovieDude]

Audi Quattro. It was the first-generation Quattro in coupe form before Audi used the name on every model in the range. 2.1 litre 5-cylinder 20-valve turbo charged 4wd. Just keep your foot on the go pedal and turn!

[Yevvy]

Audi Quattro. It was the first-generation Quattro in coupe form before Audi used the name on every model in the range. 2.1 litre 5-cylinder 20-valve turbo charged 4wd. Just keep your foot on the go pedal and turn!

oh thats sweet, i soooo want one. yeah i just remembered that i drove a lotus/caterham s7 a few years back in europe. it was fitted with a 2 litre ford sierra engine. it was ridiculously loud and went like a gocart.