What does it mean really to drive a fun car?
Posted by Fleedom2025@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 135 comments
To me all cars handle pretty much the same. Below is a list of cars that my family have owned:
2014 Lexus ES350 (mom and dad's daily)
2021 Mazda CX5 (my dad's second car)
2021 Infiniti QX50 (my wife's daily)
2025 Nissan Sentra (my daily)
I've driven all these. To me they really aren't that different. Everyone's saying how good Mazda's 6-speed transmission is. But honestly, I don't care about the difference between the simulated gear shifts of a Nissan CVT and the Mazda automatic transmission. They are all pretty bland to average drivers like me, just like eating broccoli and chicken. So I can never understand the discourse of "fun factor"...
UnscrupulousTaco@reddit
Go to an indoor go kart track...the ones that go about 60 km/hr. That same feeling is had with virtually any generation of Mazda mx 5 . Or early 2000s Toyota mr2 s ...that's another street legal go cart...but mid engined. Low horsepower, light weight vehicles with manual transmissions are magic
ExcellentWinner7542@reddit
Your choices are suitable for basic transportation but couldn't be considered fun by any stretch.
ShoeFree5756@reddit
Toyota GR 86, Mazda Miata, Hyundai Elantra N, Subaru WRX, Ford Fiesta ST. Go drive one of those with a manual transmission then get back to us.
nerissathebest@reddit
Even my 1.8L Honda Fit was fun with a manual transmission.
ShoeFree5756@reddit
I had 2000 Civic with 1.6L and like 120hp and it was fun with a manual transmission.
nerissathebest@reddit
I was passing everybody! Those squirrels in the engine were working overtime!
IngenuityStunning755@reddit
GTI/golf R added to the list. Other than that, best advice op
ShoeFree5756@reddit
I almost said GTI too, but I’m kind of mad at them for getting rid of the manual.
NikkorMatt456@reddit
Driving a sporty performance car can be a lot of fun, but finding joy in driving isn't specifically about the car. It's about how you approach driving itself, how you smoothly attack curves or corners on twisty country roads, how you roll off the brake pedal and into the throttle on corner exits, and how well you can carry momentum through the corners. While your Sentra is no Euro sports sedan, it is a tidy, compact car with decent modern tires and brakes. It can be made to hustle a little.
Dial things up some with your Sentra. Find out for yourself if you even like driving in a sporting manner, if that's what you're referring to with your post. Find some free time and some fun roads to drive and focus on your corner entries and exits.
I think you could test drive something like a Civic Sport with its paddle shifters, or rent an Audi A3 for a day. The big difference for them is having more control over gear selection with the transmissions.
ekib@reddit
Go drive a go kart. That’s what it’s like. If you like it then find a car that replicates the feeling. If not, then it’s not for you and that’s fine too.
Spyderbeast@reddit
Lol, I have a Subaru BRZ and call it my go kart
Infinite-Past7640@reddit
Aren’t those you have to be careful about pulling too many G’s so the oil doesn’t all collect on one side?
Spyderbeast@reddit
Supposedly
I think it's only an issue if someone is aggressive at the track
I enjoy spirited drives through the mountains, that's enough for me
samit2heck@reddit
That's what i call my 6 speed Alfa Giulietta
phdibart@reddit
My buddy calls track mode in my Blackwing go kart mode. Perfect description.
PK808370@reddit
Best response. Every car after that will fall short in everything but acceleration, but at least you’ll know the goal.
FearDaTusk@reddit
It's been raining for 2-3 weeks... Today was a bit hot in the 80s but I braved the potential sunburn to drive my car. 😁😎
I have a '73 MGB with 90HP of pure burn out.
It's a go-kart 😅
Talentless_Cooking@reddit
It's like saying I don't like food because the only thing I have ever tried was white rice.
Firm_Mycologist9319@reddit
I drove boring cars like yours for many years. Then my daughter talked me into getting a MINI Cooper S. Damn, who knew driving could be so much fun!?! I'm now onto my third fun car, and I won't be going back.
Crowlady77@reddit
If you don't enjoy driving then no car is probably going to really be fun. But a BMW with an inline 6 and an 8 speed auto is definitely up there in my book (M240i, M340i etc).
Something like a Miata is fun if you enjoy driving windy roads and throwing it into turns.
Confident_Chipmonk@reddit
Until you have driven a sports car unleashed on a track, you just don’t have any idea what you’re missing and how much fun you can have.
Drive a BMW at Spartanburg, or a Porsche in Atlanta or any of the other locations they have.
Buy a Miata and autocross
flash-burn01@reddit
For me, a fun car to drive is something that handles very well, accelerates hard, or the engine/exhaust sounds great. If you drive something that has all three, its the perfect trifecta. Nothing on your list sounds like it would be fun to drive to me either.
Spatula_of_Justice1@reddit
depends on what you find “fun”. For me, the second I sat in a BMW M5 or a 911 GT3RS, I knew these were different animals and insanely fun to drive. Hell, even a GT500 is fun but will try and kill you.
9BALL22@reddit
If you can't find the fun in driving a Miata or a Mini Cooper convertible, maybe driving just isn't "your thing" and that's OK. I'll never understand the pleasure that others get from fishing or golfing. Sunbathing on a sandy beach is torture to me. I think the majority of drivers in the US don't really enjoy driving, it's just a way to get where they need to go, and there's nothing wrong with that. None of the vehicles you mentioned would excite me either.
LUXOR54@reddit
None of those are considered to be a "fun car", so it's totally understandable that you find them all equally dull, because that's what they are.
Content-Insect-8770@reddit
There should be a massive difference between how a Sentra handles compared to a QX50 simply because of the weight and center of gravity. If OP can't tell the difference, he/she is simply not driving them 'spirited' enough for it to be noticeable [indeed, if you drive almost any vehicle like an 85-yo grandma, you'd be hard-pressed to tell any 'fun factor' differences]; or they actually prefer the vague steering and plusher ride of the bigger vehicles compared to the more-connected sharper road-feel of a Sentra.
d0ugfirtree@reddit
The QX50 used to be actually really fun to drive when it had the 350/370z engine and a normal slush box. Like way more fun than any crossover has any right to be. I stand by my old EX35 being one of the best crossovers of all time
LUXOR54@reddit
Of course there's going to be a differece between how a small sedan and small SUV drive, the difference doesn't mean either of them are "fun"
el-art-seam@reddit
I drive a Highlander and got a Chevy spark as a rental once. Total POS car? No. It was an absolute blast to drive. It felt like a go cart compared to my SUV.
Content-Insect-8770@reddit
Yes, I was referring to this comment from OP: "To me they really aren't that different". It's not [just?] that they are equally dull, it's that he/she finds them simply equal to drive.
Objective-Deal8745@reddit
If they drive like an 85 year old grandma, they’ll actually really dislike a “fun car” because they are firmer riding, louder, sharper steering, and especially so if the car is a stick.
oldfartjr@reddit
Best comment on this post.
TheGrandTiax@reddit
Seriously. Luxury boat, suv, luxury suv, econobox. Drive a Miata, GTI, Corvette, BRZ, Focus ST/RS, etc etc. Something at least aimed in the general direction of "performance".
SkeletorsAlt@reddit
I wish everyone could spend a month with a Miata so they could kinda get their bearings for what “fun to drive” means.
Hopeful_Morning_469@reddit
Had an 08 Mini Cooper with a six speed. I have 2024 ecoboost mustang currently. Fuck that mini was a fun car, the mustang is faster, but the mini was fun!!
7eregrine@reddit
The ES can absolutely be a fun car to drive.
jse000@reddit
If your previous car was a Xanax, sure.
LUXOR54@reddit
You could have fun in a geo Metro if you tried hard enough, doesn't mean that it's a fun car.
7eregrine@reddit
I drove an ES350 when I spent weeks helping my friend find a car. This is when I got schooled on Lexus. She ultimately bought an RC but I stand by that statement, the ES350 is a fun car if you're not afraid to step on it.
Ok-Preparation-9974@reddit
It all depends on what you think is fun. I personally enjoy my VW beetle with the top down. Grandpa liked his tractor and lawnmower. Figure out what you enjoy. Don't let someone tell you what is fun for you. You may be dissapointed.
KiKiBeeKi@reddit
My Mustang (09 GT stick shift) is the most fun car I have ever driven... I did a 7week 6500 mile road trip and loved it so much that when Hubby came to join me. For the last 2 weeks, I didn't let him drive at all. 😁🚗 My second fav was a MINI Coooer. Also a stick shift, it was like driving a go kart.
KiKiBeeKi@reddit
My Mustang is the most fun car I have ever driven... I did a 7week 6500 mile road trip and loved it so much that when Hubby came to join me. For the last 2 weeks, I didn't let him drive at all. 😁 My second fav was a MINI, it was like driving a go kart.
d3m01iti0n@reddit
Not everyone has the same definition of "fun".
Fun could be self-driving or a lot of technology.
It could be a nimble little Miata tearing up twisty roads.
It could be the exotic power and precision of Koenigsegg.
For me, it's always going to be my old Terminator. Just big, dumb brute force and supercharger whine. No bells and whistles, just burnt rubber.
numbersev@reddit
A fun car tends to have the following: a good suspension setup for excellent handling (ie double wishbone), a high revving engine that makes you work for the power (ie. Honda s2000) and a nice exhaust note. The lighter the better. Being able to feel what the tires are doing. FWD can be fun too if setup properly.
Organic-Baker-4156@reddit
I'm reminded of a person who 25 or 30 years ago bought a Toyota minivan instead of a Dodge minivan and one of his reason was the Toyota drove like a luxury car and the Dodge drove like a truck. I didn't say anything at the time. Years later I mention the conversation to him and said I found it amusing because he had never driven either a luxury car or a truck.
AdInternational6902@reddit
All of those cars you listed are boring cars. The mazda just injects some soul into the cars, doesn't make them much fun still.
Here's what makes a car fun to me.
Great engine sounds
Great driver inputs like steering feel, brakes pedal feel, good clutch and shifter feel
Manual transmission
Good handling
Thats about it, power can add fun but some of the most fun cars are underpowered like a miata for example.
What yiu should do is go drive some fun cars and see how you feel
Some good ones are a fiesta st, mazda miata(any gen), c4, c5, c6, c7 corvette, s197 mustang 5.0, etc all of those are fun and have good inputs
ofcoursebutmaybeeeee@reddit
Go to a go kart track and try a decent go kart… fun cars recreate that feeling on the road… Honda Civic Type R, Renault Clio Sport, Mazda MX5 (miata in the US) , Mini Cooper S, all fun without being overtly fast - fun cars you can generally ring the neck out of them on the road - and maintain speed through corners..that’s what makes ‘hot’ hatches so fun in my opinion
Dorsai56@reddit
Slushbox automatics aren't fun.
DonkeyImpossible316@reddit
911 turbo tiptronic begs to differ. You can argue that the manual or pdk is more fun but fun is fun. Its not always the slush box (sometimes it is) its the overweight underpower and lack of sporty design choices that kill fun.
Sledge1989@reddit
The slush is referring to fluid which is torque converter transmissions
CheMeGreezne@reddit
ZF 8HP would like a word
Jolrit@reddit
I traded in my BMW M240 Xdrive for an Integra Type S because I realized that driving a car with an automatic transmission, no matter how fast the car is, is boring unless the throttle is buried.
bc10551@reddit
Just sounds like an auto is not for you lol. I think maybe it's the way I drive so it's adjusted now but my m440 xdrive is fun with the same transmission and has some emotion to the shifts. I'd get xhp but I think I'm going to get an m2 just cause I can lol
Sledge1989@reddit
The term originated like 80 years ago when it applied to every transmission of that type. While AT transmission tech has improved exponentially in the last two decades it’s still applicable with many modern examples typically used in economy cars or some luxury cars that share drivetrains with the prior. Coincidentally this applies to the vehicles in the OP, hence the OC. Nobody with a basic understanding of the term and a decigram of common sense would think it’s applicable to a transmission used in a six figure high performance sports car even if it did have a torque converter
zinten789@reddit
You can find plenty of cars on the used market for under $10,000 with the ZF 8 speed. Excellent transmission.
Sledge1989@reddit
I know, that wasn’t the point of that last sentence, it’s that that trans wouldn’t be in vehicles of that caliber if it met the criteria of a slushbox (while having a torque is one of them, it’s not the only one). The idea that companies what actually want to sell cars and make a profit would be putting something that met the criteria in several six figure enthusiast cars in 2026 is asinine, single clutches started teaching the industry this lesson fifteen years ago and those are miles above a slushbox
PK808370@reddit
A slow shifting auto sucks fib out. That doesn’t describe modern Porsche transmissions
DonkeyImpossible316@reddit
To be fair the tip isnt exactly modern, it was (is) a Mercedes torque converter (slush) that phased out in the 997.2 into the PDK, a true dual clutch that has continued to evolve - the modern version of PDK is almost magical. I think the tip was the first auto that was actually faster 0-60 than the stick (but not as fun 😉). Tip also bulletproof at high (modified) hp levels.
All that being said, in a turbo that trans is still very fun. In a standard carerra not so much.
Punishervic@reddit
I beg to differ, some can be fun. My two crown Vic’s have been very fun and they’re both automatics.
PlusCountry6573@reddit
Go drive a bmw
Fine-State8014@reddit
Find yourself an original mini and a bendy road.
TheOminousWeeRaven@reddit
Zero depression
NeSToR_49@reddit
Something like a BMW 120i will give you a pretty good understaning
Calmernurdude@reddit
Find an old pickup, manual, learn to drive it, take it on some dirt roads. It’ll take some getting used to, because you actually have to drive it
Jaydenel4@reddit
Whatever makes you smile when you drive it.
404notfound420@reddit
Look up a car called the Citroën 2CV on YouTube. That is a fun car with 30hp lol.
magneticnorth_SWEDEN@reddit
Make sure all three wheel bolts are tight first.
404notfound420@reddit
Spoken like a guy who's wheel fell off.
Could be worse tho, my mum had one back in the day and rolled it over into a ditch being a manic and her friend flew out the open roof and landed on a nice soft grassy knoll.
Punishervic@reddit
In my experience a fun car provides a rich mechanical soundtrack, it communicates to you well, the steering is responsive, and not just some electric steering where you can’t feel anything. It’s also gotta give you a bit of a rush like pushing you in the back of your seat like some GeForce in the corner or something like that.
Careless-Response-32@reddit
A lot of the “fun” aspect is how a person drives. If you go the speed limit and take corners slow I would imagine a lot of the cars would feel the same.
CheMeGreezne@reddit
Bland cars are bland
lavardera@reddit
learn to drive a standard transmission, then try a Mini S or Miata.
overcatastrophe@reddit
The Mini S is seriously under rated, until it needs maintenance.
BaconManDan@reddit
A manual? Those haven't been standard in the vast majority of vehicles sold for quite a while. And I say this as a manual enjoyer (except when towing, lol).
upsidedown-funnel@reddit
There are a few offerings of manuals still around.
BaconManDan@reddit
My only objections is his use of the word "standard" here. I'm aware that manuals are still manufactured, but their golden age for all but the driving enthusiast market is past. The average, the most common, the "standard" transmission is now an automatic.
Practicality_Issue@reddit
Most people think “manual transmission” when anyone says “standard.” I was sitting with a group of people before a meeting and mentioned “manual transmissions are called ‘standards’ because automatics were an option you paid extra for.” All of their expressions changed.
I say all of this because while yes, that’s the truth of the matter, but you’re arguing semantics. Most everyone is coming in good faith saying “manual” or “standard” to mean the same thing. Perhaps you’re not in or from the US. I get that. But in the common vernacular standard and manual are interchangeable.
Never_mind_honey@reddit
Definitely not true for the miata
BaconManDan@reddit
"for the vast majority of vehicles"
Time_Country_4666@reddit
I have a PDK Boxster S thst is fuckin fun as hell.
Many-Tale9112@reddit
Look for a car that gives you a driving experience. Not just getting you from a to b. Jeep people love the freedom of having doors and tops off along with off road capabilities. Challenger fans like the visceral sound and feeling their car gives them. Think about what appeals to you- speed? Car aesthetics? Try finding a car that is suited towards that and give it a try. You’ll know when you find it.
Hitt1te@reddit
Get a Supra.
ElectronicAnthony@reddit
Everyone is pointing out that the cats you've driven aren't fun, and recommending fun cars. And they are right. But it's deeper and more simple than that; do you like to go fast? Bikes, scooters, motorcycles go-karts golf carts 4 wheelers sports carts and everything in-between. If the thrill and adrenaline don't suit you then sports cars aren't your thing. Nothing wrong with that, pursue your passion.
Justadailytoke@reddit
I’d rather drive a 5 speed old beat up jeep than any of the vehicles you listed
Cheap-Entry8030@reddit
This is such a divisive topic. A “Fun” car to me means steering feedback, solid braking with feedback and likely a manual transmission. I gravitate towards smaller cars ….. the key to the OP’s question is the senses that you feel while driving the select car.
HungryYeastStarter@reddit
Fun is relative and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
That being said, Miata.
kk1620@reddit
I drive a shitbox 96 Cherokee with exhaust, header, and intake. It's slow and obnoxiously loud but it just makes me smile every time I drive it. It's like the Indiana Jones ride. Something about it is just so fun..It hogs fuel but I get plenty of smiles per gallon
Upnorth4@reddit
I have a Kia Forte and it is fun to drive it on rural dirt roads and mountain roads. Sometimes driving a normal small car at slightly above the speed limit on these roads is fun because you need to have skill to take corners or navigate dirt roads.
TimboFor76@reddit
I agree. Guy drives boring ass cars with no Personality and doesn’t describe what’s fun to him. I drive a lowered 80’s Toyota mini truck. It’s slow, smells like gas, doesn’t handle well, and quite frankly doesn’t do any real truck stuff. But I love every mile of driving it. My kid loves men’s picked up from high school in it, but sadly she doesn’t want to learn to drive stick.
no_clever_names@reddit
Yep, I think slow-but-interesting is another great type of fun car, even if it isn’t because of the driving itself.
I drive an 80s Nissan import that is painfully slow, has a slush box and carb, and doesn’t handle great, but it still puts a smile on my face every time I get in it.
TimboFor76@reddit
I also have a fiberglass street buggy on a Vw chassis with open headers. The thing is obnoxious and drives like it hates you. It’s fun to drive but for completely different reasons than my mini truck. It does absolutely nothing well, but makes you happy when you drive it.
3daycondor@reddit
You e driven nothing but commuter cars. Go see if you can rent or test drive something with a little pizazz. You’re missing out on a world of fun. Being in a car can be entertaining
nolongerbanned99@reddit
Drive a 22 or newer manual wrx and you shall understand.
GDSTI06@reddit
Fun cars
Miata
Gd chassis sti
Dodge Omni GLH
VW RABBIT SORROCO OR GOLF ALL FROM THE 80S
eatingabananawrong@reddit
Pretty much any Alfa Romeo.
Never_mind_honey@reddit
BRZ/86 twins
eatingabananawrong@reddit
I think (possibly with exceptions) that a fun car will usually be compromised to any reasonable person and not really make sense. Fuel economy, hard ride, no storage space, noisy, high maintainence cost etc. But when you drive it it doesn't matter just for that moment. You'll probably look at reflections in shop windows when you drive past and look back when you park it.
Hard to explain but a fun car makes any journey less of a chore and makes you feel better.
robindawilliams@reddit
To me all of those cars are in the modern era of sanitized driving. They are all consistently reliably nice to drive and there is no quirks or foibles.
You want to try driving a car with character (this is good and bad) and something that has you less removed from your environment. The reason fun cars are fun is you are made to focus on the experience because there isn't so much Bluetooth music and sound deadening and automatic gearing and comforts to make it feel like you are just being moved from A to B.
Try driving an old MGB or a Miata or a Porsche or a manual gearbox truck from the 70s or anything else that connects you to the road and takes focus to drive.
New-Proof-1185@reddit
I once owned a 67 Triumph Spitfire and have owned 2 Miatas. All were fun to drive in their own special ways.
timmmarkIII@reddit
It means you know how to have fun with a car.
A long time ago my old roommate got a new yellow Mercury Capri II in 1977. 4 speed, 4 cylinder. But he was granny shifting it at 2000 rpms. I said "look even an automatic will be shifting at 3500 RPMs once in awhile!" The whole character of the car changed.
A little car with a little engine can be fun. And it handled pretty well. The automatic would have been boring. I have an 04 Jaguar XJR, supercharged with 390 HP. The automatic in manual shift gate can be fun. But my 15 Fiesta 5 speed manual with 120 HP is definitely fun. But not powerful.
YOU pick your shift points. When to upshift or downshift.
An automatic is like old TV laugh tracks, they tell you when to laugh. At the least funny time. It's boring and insulting.
Poopy-Drew@reddit
I have always loved to drive and had some fairly awesome rides but it wasn’t until I daily drove a Porsche Cayman S did I even understand how truly fun it can be
HxofNx@reddit
You drove the white bread of cars. Go test drive a dark horse, M3/4, Porsche, RS3 etc, then you can have an opinion.
SnooMaps4388@reddit
You need to actually drive a fun car to answer this question. You don't need a lamborghini, and it doesn't need to be fast. Go rent a Miata or something :)
Practicality_Issue@reddit
On a work trip we rented a Tesla Model 3. For me, once I got past the immediate acceleration - it just didn’t hit for me. Other than the acceleration, the most fun I had with it was setting the radio station to a Mexican accordion/polka style music and left it there. No one in the group took the time to drive thru all of the menus to figure out how to change the station.
masilver@reddit
Model 3 is a great drive. Amazing feel, very responsive.
overindulgent@reddit
Hell. Go find a 2007 civic si.
whozwat@reddit
Quick, did I get here before the Miata guys?... My version of a really fun car was the lightweight Triumph Spitfire. The Mark 4 controlled the swing axle pretty well so you could throw it into a four-wheel drift in the curves, weak synchros compensated by heel and toe double clutch down to put the engine into the curve for good acceleration out of the corners. With some luck you don't hit black ice in the shade and fly off the side of mountain. Hope that helps!
Practicality_Issue@reddit
Well, I’m here now. Currently own a Miata. But I also dailied an ‘82 RX7, a ‘71 TR6 and a ‘71 Mk IV Spitfire.
All 4 of those cars have been absolute peaches to drive in one way or another.
But so was my 1982 FJ60 Land Cruiser. There was no tire squealing, no drifting - just long, slow shifts @ 19 mpg highway.
I think the OP just isn’t exactly a “car person” - which is totally fine - and no matter of character in a vehicle will ever speak to them. Thank goodness we are all different, right?
KH3285@reddit
I mean…that is a list of boring cars. Just test drive almost anything else that even tries to be sporty and you’ll be having a new experience.
7eregrine@reddit
I mean, I'd rather have an IS or an RC, but the ES is no slouch.
KH3285@reddit
No slouch, sure, but hardly fun or sporty.
nostradumbass7544678@reddit
I took the long way (roughly 150 extra miles through the mountains) to the grocery store today because it was a nice day for a drive. Enjoyed every mile of it.
mrchowmein@reddit
Try a Miata with a Mazda 6 speed manual. Go autocross or canyon carving.
All the cars you’ve listed are boring. Heck EVs like a bone stock non performance model 3 is probably more fun than those cars lol.
roosterjack77@reddit
Manual, RWD, small 4 cylinder engine to thrash
Dirtbagdownhill@reddit
Driving a slow car with a manual can be really fun. I've had a couple gtis and those cars are a blast, I still have an older Subaru outback with a turbo, it's quick and can get a little rowdy even if it's pretty heavy for tight corners. Modern cars are made to be safe, efficient and easy, none of those traits are fun
Jamaican_Dynamite@reddit
Maybe if you wanna kiss a wall and get real in touch with your insides. Start small. Try a Miata, or a Mustang, or even like a Charger R/T. Get an Altima on four donuts and send it one time.
miseeker@reddit
I bought a cx5 because it was most fun in its class. I had my share of drag racing in the 70s 80s, hiway in the 90s. Mostly I’ve stuck to junk pickups, but when it was time for a new CAR..well, I live on a curvy paved road. And by the way, driving the speed limit doesn’t test handling.
Gunorgunorg@reddit
A fun car is any car that brings your joy. Results may vary
maxheadflume@reddit
MGB, under 100 hp still the most fun car I’ve ever owned.
7eregrine@reddit
I drive a Volvo S60 with the turbo charged and super charged 2 liter engine. It's the first turbo I've driven that had no turbo lag.
It's fun. It's fast. Handles like a dream. Confident, sure footed. It does exactly what I expect of it. Every time.
When you drive a fun car and your wife asks "Can you go to the Giant grocery store?", you reply "Can I get that at Super grocery store?".... Because its 3 miles farther away and involves the freeway.
😎
johnwon00@reddit
Drive a Mazda Miata for a weekend. Top down on a nice warm, not hot day. Its just a fun around town car. Not very practical for a lot of shopping, but easy to drive and park and handles curvy roads well.
upsidedown-funnel@reddit
Took my kids Spark EV to get the tires done and the tire guy commented on how fun it was to drive. They’re quick little cars.
rudbri93@reddit
Id go with more enthusiast geared performance cars. Miata, mini cooper s, mustang gt, corvette, maybe a porsche cayman or 911 if your renting on turo or something. Not saying they universally appeal to all, but those are pretty popular picks for car-people.
upsidedown-funnel@reddit
Even the super shitty manual Fiat 500 is fun to drive. It doesn’t have much power, unless you go with the abarth, and for a few weeks, while it runs, it’s fun to drive. It’s no R53, but…
bhalter80@reddit
Those all handle the same you're right.
Drive something RWD like a non-X-drive BMW and see how different it is cornering when it starts to step out. Drive something low like a Miata the cornering is very different.
It's hard to describe but I drive a 2006 Mini S, a 2008 M3 and a 2014 328xD. They all are very different sensory experiences and fun in their own ways
losromans@reddit
It’s not always about power. I’ve had an old Corolla rwd manual that was a blast to drive but would run at like 6500 rpm on the highway bc that’s how it was geared. Wasn’t fast but was super fun to drive.
I’ve had automatic cars that were fun to drive like a 300 srt8 or a m45 (y34)
I’ve had a mustang and it wasn’t as fun to drive as my 370z and that wasn’t as fun as my best to crap awd talon or even my second Subaru.
Now I drive a 4Runner and it’s still fun but in a different way. I roll 5 windows down and have music going and just kinda relax. Heck, even in the old stock suspension, I can still corner faster than most people in it bc I’ve taken time to feel how she rolls in different turning scenarios.
I miss having a manual car. It’s strange when you feel it and it doesn’t have to be manual but, something that makes you feel more connected to your driving experience.
Go kartikg is kinda close but only if they don’t limit your speed. You gotta be able to lose control a bit to really feel it.
That and a car you can work on yourself and modify and just make your own.
And if it’s not your thing, it’s not your thing. It doesn’t have to be to be an amazing person. Don’t stretch yourself too thin trying to be everything. That’s just the pits.
FormerLaugh3780@reddit
You are lacking any resemblance of fun in that car collection.
Maleficent-Two-685@reddit
I consider my 90s Bronco my fun car, it’s not fast, it handles really good out in the desert and it makes me smile from temple to temple
lunchbox651@reddit
It depends what you consider fun.
Driving a 1970 Holden Kingswood was fun to drive but it handled like shit and was slow. It just looked amazing, sounded cool and had bench seats front and back.
On the other hand I had a pretty heavily modified Golf GTI, it handled well enough but could also do 0-100km/h in 4.5s. Having something with that much kick was a riot on the track and when needing to overtake on shit roads.
Those examples are to provide a few ideas of what fun can be. It can be an aesthetically pleasing car, it can be a fast car, it can be a perfect cruiser or it can be something you can wring out in the corners. That's why you see people talk about how fun the MX-5/Miata is, it's not fast or fancy but it handles brilliantly so people looking for that alone have an easy choice. Fun is such a subjective thing, you just need to find what your fun is and pursue it.
idiotcommend@reddit
Autocross
_MadSuburbanDad_@reddit
None of those are fun cars.
Wonderful_Setting_29@reddit
When people talk about a 6 speed transmission theyre not talking about an automatic. This isnt a cvt vs auto thing. And none of those are cars that are intended to be fun. Go drive a manual car thats meant to be fun.
Big_Slope@reddit
“Everyone's saying how good Mazda's 6-speed transmission is. But honestly, I don't care about the difference between the simulated gear shifts of a Nissan CVT (which a lot of car guys hate) and Mazda's automatic transmission.”
Nobody was talking about the automatic.
MaximumDerpification@reddit
Once you experience an actually fun car you will completely understand.
stonewall028@reddit
you drove 4 modern non-enthusiast cars with automatic transmissions that all weigh anywhere from 3k-5k lbs and dont understand why you didnt have fun ??? none of those are built to have fun in. theyre built for safety and comfort. go drive a sports car with a manual transmission and then see how you feel.