Modern cars just to competent to have fun legally?

"Turn off the traction control completely."

I was gonna suggest a year old/two year old Mustang. Cheap fun, but you HAVE to turn off the traction control to get any of it. Otherwise it's kind of a slug, or at least feels that way.

wearymicrobe wrote: That is more then likely the answer. a 09-11 911 Non s in a coupe with a manual would hit all the buttons. Still a fast little bugger.

A 997.2 will help you in the nice newer car with a 'sense of occasion' when you drive it, without even needing to disable the traction control...But still won't be any help in the "too competent" department.

I would also mention a similar vintage Cayman/S, but while technically great, the feel of driving a 911 does still have a bit more panache in my limited experience.

GT-500 convertible.

I think that is why I enjoy driving my Fiesta. It's not supposed to be as quick as it is. still not fast enough to get into much trouble.

Turning off the nannys, TC, cannot turn of the SC , have mostly no effect.

You can wring this out every day- As much as you can take!

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So it's like a hipster lotus.

mazdeuce wrote: But my 911 with about the same power/weight is Awesome with a capital A. My Mazda2 was really good for a slow car, my old 240 wagon was even better, my RX7 is fantastic. It's not just slow cars though, because the V wagon is eye poppingly fast and I love it. Yes I can break every speed limit in second, but I can do that in third in the Porsche or the Mazda2 (though I could do it while sipping coffee in the 2 because it took so long) You know what else is fun? My wife's FJ cruiser with the 6mt. Yes it's like driving a tractor, but it's like driving a tractor! The point is that there are some fun cars out there, and there are some real dogs, and power/speed is only part of it.

I believe 100%

I guess it just comes down to "soul". Numbers are secondary (or probably closer to "last in line").

I'll say that I never thought I'd consider an '83 Civic as anything but a soul-less econo-box, but I dig the heck out of driving this little hamster powered tin can every day! It's got something, I don't know what it is, but it's a hoot.

I wonder what cars we're throwing in the "soul-less crap can" bin now that will turn out the same way?

i tend to stick with cars built before 1990, the worst daily ive owned was my 97 civic and it was just boring!

What is wrong with the 2 wheeled answer? You said you are stuck in gridlock 90% of the time, this has to be the perfect answer.

I've had a bike for 2 months, and so far I haven't been "stuck" in traffic once :)

"Modern"? berkeley, the average econobox from 25 years ago is too fast/competent to have fun legally.

I DD an automatic box of plastic with a crappy GM 4 banger, stock suspension and narrow all season tires. Its more than capable of grossly exceeding the speed of traffic and or posted limits anywhere with little to no thought.

"I guess it just comes down to "soul"."

Putney says, "The Borman Six girl is got to have soul!"

My dream "money no object" car is a Singer 911. As in, I have no idea whether it will be worth anything decades down the line. They remind me of a bespoke three-piece suit; made to make the individual feel awesome, even if the details are invisible to just about everyone.

I have never even been in a 911, but I sense that an 80's model (such as the SC featured in this month's GRM!) is exactly what my heart desires. I really don't get the allure of the 911, but it's there, and I feel it.

solfly wrote: ep3 si/rsx handle great but not overly powerful, plus honda

+1...

solfly wrote: ep3 si/rsx handle great but not overly powerful, plus honda

I feel that a '95 Cavalier handles, brakes, and accelerates too well to probe its limits while staying to the legal side of responsible driving on public roads.

Plus it's a Cavalier. It's a cockroach. Hondas have... issues. And the EL displays are annoying even when they are in the car next to you.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: When is the new Alfa 4C coming to the US? Seriously, seems like an Elise with MOAR awesome sauce.

It is supposed to be next month with a limited run of 500 priced at $70k or so according to the interwebz.

I know what you want....

I've been enjoying my '01 Mustang GT. It's not anything special, it has a 5 speed, K&N intake and a Flowmaster Force II exhaust, and that's it. I absolutely love how a 4.6L sounds, especially through just about any aftermarket exhaust. Even with 273k (I bought it from a co-worker who commuted 140 miles per day), it drives very well, has A/C, and is just fun.

My commute is split between some back roads and a bunch of stop and go traffic, but it's been a blast. I know that I'll go a little nuts when it comes time to put her away next winter, but I've been enjoying the commute.

RoughandReady wrote: I know what you want....

With a full cage yes I absolutely do. These have soul.

wearymicrobe wrote:

RoughandReady wrote: I know what you want....

With a full cage yes I absolutely do. These have soul.

I totally wouldn't be apposed to putting a helmet on every day for the commute to and from work in that.

nicksta43 wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote:

RoughandReady wrote: I know what you want....

With a full cage yes I absolutely do. These have soul.

I totally wouldn't be apposed to putting a helmet on every day for the commute to and from work in that.

So you were the stigs american cousin

Find a clean, well cared for M Coupe. Or is a 15y.o. design not modern enough?

I also love my S2000. I think it is better engineered with much nicer fit and finish than my M Coupe was. Top folding down is a bonus in my book. The M Coupe definitely has more style and way more practicality with the hatch. Both cars have soul and surprisingly different personalities for how similar they appear on paper.

(Plus I found a nicer example at a lower price than I would have been able to with another M Coupe. I also have an Astro in case I actually do need luggage space.)

This is what you need---- fun, super rare, will get worth more as time goes by. Good as a daily, but gives a sense of occasion each time you drive it. Fantastic cars if you can find one. BMW 1 series M:

I still say that the best answer to this thread is Miata

All I can say is I am too incompetent to not have fun in anything.

Keith Tanner wrote: When I worked at a Ford dealership in the 90's, my favorite car to run errands in was an Aspire. Slow as molasses, so I could drive the wheels off it and nobody would notice.

THANK YOU! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.

I had an Aspire for about a year and a half, and loved every single 6500 rpm shift. It wasn't capable, but it was just so fun to cane it like a rented mule.