5.
Porsche Boxster
It’s the entry point to the Porsche sports
car range, but as our ranking shows, the Boxster is arguably a better driver’s
car than the 911.
Most of that can be put down to how easy it
is to drive quickly. While the 911 has eliminated its tail-happy tendencies of
old, the mid-mounted engine layout of the Boxster means those fears are
non-existent in the first place, while the car’s virtually unbreakable grip
inspires massive confidence in even the meekest of drivers. And plumping for
the entry-level model is no hardship at all.
In fact, we’d go as far to say that this is
all the Boxster you need, as it has enough power to be entertaining and rides
more comfortably than the Boxster S, thanks to its smaller-diameter wheels.
Plus, it tops all this off with surprisingly low running costs for a
performance car.
Specs
·
Price: $57,356
·
Engine: 2.7-liter flat 6cyl
·
Power: 261bhp
·
Torque: 280Nm
·
0-62mph: 5.8 secs
·
Top spd: 164mph
4.
Toyota GT 86
Look at the raw statistics, and the Toyota
GT 86 doesn’t appear to be a contender for fast car honors. Yet there’s more to
a great performance car than a huge power output and tire-shredding 0-62mph
time. Here, it’s the sublime handling that marks the car out as something
special.
With its perfectly balanced
rear-wheel-drive layout, beautifully weighted steering, characterful boxer
engine and snappy gear shift, the GT 86 makes every drive a joy. Better still,
it adapts to suit your mood – it can be neat and precise on minute and deliver Smokey,
showboating tail slides the next.
The 2.0-liter engine adds to the fun, with
sharp throttle response and a rasping exhaust note. And while it can’t match
the average hot hatch for acceleration, it relishes hard work, encouraging you
to extract every last ounce of performance.
Yet as you’d expect from a Toyota, this
driving fun doesn’t come at the expense of everyday usability. There’s room for
four adults, while the well-shaped boot will swallow a couple of suitcases – or
even a set of tires, if you fancy taking your GT 86 on a track day. And the
cabin is generously equipped.
Sure, this isn’t the most handsome coupé,
while the dated interior design won’t be to all tastes. But the GT 86 is still
one of the performance car bargains of the decade.
Specs
·
Price: $37,493
·
Engine: 2.0-liter flat 4cyl
·
Power: 297bhp
·
Torque: 205Nm
·
0-62mph: 7.6 secs
·
Top spd: 140mph
3.
Ferrari 458 Italia
Even when it’s standing still, the stunning
Ferrari 458 looks like it’s doing 150mph. With its mix of aggressive lines,
sharp creases and menacing stance, the mid-engined two-seater is one of the
most dramatic-looking cars on the road.
And as you’d expect, the 458 delivers on
this breathtaking styling with ferocious performance. The combination of a
562bhp 4.5-liter V8 engine and a launch control system allows it to blast from
0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, while the seven-speed twin-clutch automatic
transmission rips through the gears in the blink of an eye. The engine’s
howling, spine-tingling soundtrack merely adds to the incredible drama, and the
drop top Spider version gets you ever closer to the car’s scintillating exhaust
note.
Yet the 458 is much more than a one trick pony.
Wonderfully direct steering, limpet-like grip and acrobatic agility mean that
confidence-inspiring supercars money can buy. In fact, the only real fly in the
ointment is the $259,772 price tag.
Specs
·
Price: $259,772
·
Engine: 4.5-liter V8
·
Power: 562bhp
·
Torque: 540Nm
·
0-62mph: 3.4 secs
·
Top spd: 202mph-plus
2.
Ford Fiesta ST
We had to wait a while for the Ford Fiesta
ST to hit showrooms, but it was well worth it. This pocket rocket is an
outstanding achievement, as it’s one of the best-handling cars of any kind
we’ve driven in the past 12 months.
In any range, the performance model needs
to stand out from the standard car, and the Fiesta ST does this courtesy of the
big, black honeycomb grille up front, as well as a beefy body kit and exclusive
colors. While the look may be too lairy for some, it at least signals the
three-door’s intent.
The 1.6-liter turbo has bassy rumble, and
the exhaust note has been tuned so that a meaty sound fills the cabin. Hit the
road, and while the ride is on the firm side, it’s easy to live with and
doesn’t get tiring – especially on a twisty B-road.
Here, the Fiesta ST comes alive. The direct
steering has plenty of feedback, so it’s easy to place the car exactly where
you want it, while the chassis is in credibly responsive, without feeling edgy
or nervous. The slick six-speed gearbox is a joy to use, and makes the most of
the engine’s punchy power delivery.
We thought this fast Ford was a more
entertaining hot hatch than the Peugeot 208 GTi an Renaultsport Clio (Issue
1,267). But the reality is that it’s one of the best-handling and most
involving sport cars at any price.
Specs
·
Price: $25,493
·
Engine: 1.6-liter 4cyl turbo
·
Power: 180bhp
·
Torque: 240Nm
·
0-62mph: 6.9 secs
·
Top spd: 139mph
1.
Porsche Cayman S
If you want the most entertaining, most fun
to drive and easiest to live with sports car on sale today, look no further
than the Porsche Cayman.
This second-generation model launched
earlier this year, having undergone Porsche’s traditional process of evolution.
It looks chunkier than the original, much like it Boxster sister car. It’s
what’s under the skin that really matters, though, and while the running gear
is carried over from the soft-top, the coupe’s handling has slightly crisper
edge due to the extra rigidity of its body.
Unlike the 911, the Cayman is mid-engined,
so all its weight is packed between the axles meaning fantastically balanced
handling. Wide tracks front and rear translate into masses of grip, and the
steering is perfectly weighted and dripping with feedback.
The standard six-speed manual gearbox
offers slick shifts to make the most of the power on offer, especially in the
beefy 321bhp Cayman S, which can cover 0-62mph in a 911-rivalling five seconds.
But choosing the PDK twin-clutch transmission is no hardship, as it picks the
right gear at the right time, and blips the throttle for smooth downshifts,
too.
Even better is how this Porsche drives when
you’re not pushing it on a twisty back road. Choose the optional PASM adaptive
dampers and set them to normal mode, and it’s a surprisingly comfortable
cruiser. Add spacious front and rear boots, and the Cayman S really is the best
fast fun car you can buy.
Specs
·
Price: $73,175
·
Engine: 3.4-liter flat 6cyl
·
Power: 321bhp
·
Torque: 370Nm
·
0-62mph: 5.0 secs
·
Top spd: 175mph
