So what is it that makes a good driver's car?

[Justin]

And what is it that makes other cars utterly frustrating and irritating to drive? The worst car I ever drove which wasn't a shambling wreck was a newish Renault 21 Estate. It was appalling - its brakes, steering, gearbox and clutch were all mushy and unconnected.

So by contrast, a good driver's car isn't mushy and unconnected.The word which I am searching for is "together". A good driver'scar is, IMHO, together. It lets you know (subtly)that your demands are well within its engineering tolerances, and, perhaps a little smugly, that maneouver you have just executed was one which it had participated in on the test track at development stage. It all works smoothly, competently butnot boringly. This means that Mercs are not good drivers cars, by and large, because they have never managed to inject a frisson of excitement into their competent well engineered products.

A really good driver's car combines "togetherness" with a snug and purposeful, well made feeling in the cockpit, or else it is just so very good that you don't focus on the cockpit, such as the Lotus Elise or the Subaru Impreza. BMW get the snug, well made purposeful cockpit approach right, but they combine this with a few havy and lame four cylinder engined models.

So what is the best driver's car and why is this so? And what marks out a good driver's car?

[Anders]

Many magazines would do track handling tests to find the answer to this, but I think that's pretty worthless for everyday driving. I don't think I'm all that interested in pushing a car to the limit on a road. Well, I'm not interested in paying for the repairs. The Lotus Elise gets rave reviews because it's light, nimble, great steering, etc, but what they always forget to mention is that it's very difficult to control once you approach the limit. Like an Audi TT perhaps. I'd say the VX220 could be a very good version of the Elise.

But to answer your questions, who knows. To feel connected with a car is probably the most important aspect from a driver's perspective. I have driven four cars for long enough to qualify them as driver's cars, and they are: Mazda RX-7, Subaru Impreza Turbo, BMW E36, and the new Toyota MR2. I drove the MX-5 many years ago and I liked it a lot, but recent drives didn't impress me as much. Longer stints in a Boxster will probably add it to the list also.

[Chancer]

All the cars you nominate as being good drivers cars would be beyond the reach of the average household. I mean there aren't many people in general who drive Scooby's, MR2's, RZ-7's (what's that car when its at home?) etc.

So would that mean that all mainstream cars that the average person drives are not good drivers cars then? Are there any cars further down the chain that would come close to being at least interesting? What about a Golf GTI, a Saxo Vts, or even a 1.6 160BHP Vti Civic, or is that scraping the bottom of a very deep barrel?

[Justin]

Thd Ford Focus is, apparently, a very good drive. Also, the Nissan Primera is meant to be quite good. The 205GTi which I had once was a cracking good drive but a ruinous ownerhip and roadholding proposition. The Alfa 156 is very good, the Citroen Saxo VTS outsells the 106 GTi because it is better, and many good drivers' cars such as the Sunny GTi and Civic VTi can be bought for next to nothing. And what about an old shape 200SX, say 1992, which costs less than a new set of wheels for a 911, which is an old fashioned tail out oversteery blinder?

There are lots of good genes lower down the food chain!

[Anders]

Have you driven a Nissan Primera? I really don't understand the reviews, it is a truly awful car.

I have driven the Ford Focus, and it is indeed a super car. About the only thing I don't like about it is the seating position, too upright or something.

I'm not sure about the 156 being a true driver's car, though. It's a great car and everything, but the suspension isn't quite right and the gearchange is a bit rubbery and positioned wrong. I was driving my wife's 156 down a twisty bumby road today and it didn't feel quite right. A lot of pitching and diving, and the car didn't seem planted on the road. It's not a car that in my opinion connects with the driver. I do appreciate the practicality of the 156 and the sportiness of the car, and it's probably a very good compromise between the two.

I'd say you can get a Scooby for decent money these days. RX-7s are probably in the teens too, if you can find one. Either will blow the socks off any Civic or GTi whatever. Or get a BMW 3-series six cylinder of the previous model, which in my opinion is a superb car. I don't think I have driven a car with better suspension tuning, an almost perfect compromise between comfort and road holding.

[Tony]

For the money, you just can't beat a six-cylinder BMW. It has the best mixture of refinement and comfort, stands head and shoulders above the competition, is very desirable and exclusive, and yet remains a fantastic drivers car. Forget your 316’s and 318’s and go for a 320 at least. Believe me you’ll be grinning from ear to ear every time you drive her.