best handling car you've ridden in or drove?

[1994Ranger$$$pit]

Ford Feiro.

 

[Mac]

Best handling had to be something like Martin's Lotus Seven with a 2.0L turbo'd Ford motor. Weighed less that 2000 lbs, friend built it for built for autocross. Quickest and fastest might be my summer driver now, that or my buddies English Ford 'C' gasser he used as a dd.
Dave

 

[Hammermechanic]

This is my "close 2nd"

I built it based on a wrecked Lotus Europa chassis. 2.3 Turbo Ford,mid engine VW IRS transaxle,4 wheel discs,big intercooler under that wing,more,more,more. Yes I drive it on the street. Titled as a 1967 Lotus.PIX:

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Looks a bit different now. 1967 Ohio plates,narrower front tires,wider rears,a few refinements here and there,as well. Lost the VW horn button and replaced it w a Lotus one,etc etc etc. Yes...it's FUN!

 

[Hammermechanic]

Heres another old pic: [/IMG]

 

[Kowboy]

Two cars come to mind for me. My 1998 BMW Z3 and 2003 Porsche Boxster S. I have driven both of these very hard in the mountains of Virginia. They both would go much faster in the curves than I cared for. I want to also include my weirdest vehicle also. I once had the opportunity to ride in a friends El Camino. Something just did not look right about the car at first sight. Once inside the cockpit I inquired about the oddity. He said that it was a Monte Camino. I thought he had a loose screw somewhere. Now cutting to the chase, a local body shop mechanic took a bet that he could join the front of a Monte Carlo w/ the El Camino's bed. He won the bet. It was a quality build.

 

[Hagan]

This guy right here knows what's up. My brother daily drives a 94 M edition. Car is a dream to drive.

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk

Thanks!

I don't think most people have the slightest idea of a great handling car. But if you want to think your v6 Camry handles great then to each there own. But I prefer to carve the corners with my sport bike.

 

[swynx]

Heres another old pic: [/IMG]

BUILD Thread!!!!? That thing is awesome. Any idea on the power?

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

I've driven a Porsche Carrerra... Wast very impressive on power but was sporty.

Last week I drove an Infiniti g35 and it handled a tight roundabout swell.

I've also driven a Nissan 350Z which is the same as a G35

I'd say the BMWs and Mercedes are decent too.

 

[swynx]

Girl friends brother had a BMW z4 roadster. That car was pretty quick and handled like dream.

 

[Will]

Thanks!

I don't think most people have the slightest idea of a great handling car. But if you want to think your v6 Camry handles great then to each there own. But I prefer to carve the corners with my sport bike.

Yeah, I have to agree. Indiana State Road 135 is a popular speed road with bikes and cars. Cars are universally in the way--even on my Suzuki TU250X. I think that green car by Hammer Mechanic could do okay in the turns with those wide tires, but it's going to get owned after the turns by a sport bike.

I have a Honda 919--which is a Honda Fireblade engine in a more upright naked bike--no fairings. It's not upright enough to be comfortable for more than an hour--my Guzzi Breva is my daily rider and the Suzuki 250 is my winter bike. But the 919 is absolutely insane in the acceleration department. It doesn't matter how fast you go around a corner in a car because this bike will flash by you right after. Get it up to 40mph in first gear, stand up and lean way over the bars and twist it wide open and the front comes up--you can't hold it down.

Cornering on a bike is much more fun than a car because you are a part of the bike, but are just a passenger in the car. On a bike you lean it in and then roll the throttle on and are pressed down into the seat. The bike needs your mass to increase grip. You twist the bars against the roll when you come out and it throws you forward when you exchange all the centrifugal force for straight-line acceleration.

In a car, you want the suspension to keep the car flat so the tread width doesn't get overloaded. You get pulled into the seatbelts and are part of the problem, not the solution. It's the exact opposite of the bike. The car in no way matches the bike for human experience. In the extreme though, a Formula One car can beat a Moto GP bike on the circuit. Those tires can't be beat by the bike. In every other instance, a bike can be faster.

And a lot more dangerous.

But having a powerful bike leaned over in a turn and then rolling the throttle open and twisting the bars to force it up and squirting away is the best feeling ever. It's awesome. The suspension is squatting hard as your weight is forced down into it. Then you stand it up and feel that energy being sent back into the bike as acceleration. It's nothing that is possible in a car.

You would have to buy a Bugatti Veyron to even experience the straight-line acceleration of even a 600cc sport bike. Let alone the turns.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

http://photos.aaca.org/files/6/0/3/3/4/1964_ford_fairlane_sports_coupe_-_dark_copper_-_rvr.jpg
My first car was a 1964 sport coup like this cornered on a dime.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't think most people have the slightest idea of a great handling car. But if you want to think your v6 Camry handles great then to each there own. But I prefer to carve the corners with my sport bike.

The question was what is the best handling car you have been around. Quite possible that a Camry is the best handling car someone has been around in their life.

 

[Slammin Sam]

I have to throw in with Hagan. The stock Miata sticks to the road like its on rails. I have a 95 with about 95K miles. The only thing I've done to the suspension is a set of AGX adjustable shocks. There are plenty of twisties out here in western Colorado. You can better than double the warning speed on curves without a problem. Of course, the tires and the driver's skill do come into play.

 

[96Indyram]

This thread was about cars. Its common sense a motorcycle is more agile and faster than anything with 4 wheels.
The new sportbikes power to weight ratio is insane now. 200+ hp on 700 pounds or less.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have to throw in with Hagan. The stock Miata sticks to the road like its on rails. I have a 95 with about 95K miles. The only thing I've done to the suspension is a set of AGX adjustable shocks. There are plenty of twisties out here in western Colorado. You can better than double the warning speed on curves without a problem. Of course, the tires and the driver's skill do come into play.

As I was "pushing" my brother's Mustang in the black hills I kept reminding myself how little it would take to make things go wrong to have a ride of a lifetime off a cliff. Little bit of gravel, funky dip in the road, large wildlife... lots of variables that are out of anyones control.