I see with some regret that Audi is discontinuing both the R8 supercar and its baby brother, the TT sports car.
For obvious reason$$$ I was never in the market for either, but I still feel somewhat melancholy because the thought of the loss of any car built for the pure enjoyment of driving is not a happy one.
A hundred years ago I talked about the joys of open-topped sports cars, and my feelings have not changed one iota. If anything, my desire to own a convertible sports car has increased, not lessened, even though I know that I’d probably need some kind of crane or lift to get my decrepit fat ass out of the thing.
Hence my lottery dream of the exquisite BMW Z8:
(horrifyingly, since sold)
…or more reasonably, the Mazda MX-5:
Which leads me to today’s little thought exercise.
Below is a list of 20 sports cars (not supercars). Assuming that all were driveable and in excellent condition, and had assurance of some kind of reliability (and please note that last factor)…
…rank your top 5 of the 20 (and only of these 20, no substitutions) with reasons if so desired. Consider whatever factors you feel are important: “wow” (that feeling when you walk into your garage and realize that it’s yours, all yours), reliability, chick-appeal, speed, handling, trunk size, whatever.
Note that there’s a mixture of old and new. Feel free to mix ‘n match. Also, I’ve left off some obvious ones (pure performance cars like the E-type, Corvette, Ferrari, AC Cobra etc. so that you end up having more choices).
Sunbeam Alpine
Honda S2000
Austin Healey 3000 MkIII
Jaguar XK120
Mercedes 230 SL
Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider
MGB GT
VW Eos
Toyota 2000 GT
Audi TT
Morgan Plus 8
BMW Z4
Ford Mustang
MG TF
Toyota MR2
Lotus / Caterham Seven
Triumph TR4
Fiat Dino 2400 Spider
Porsche 356 C
Jensen Interceptor
My Top 5 below the fold:
Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider
…because Alfa Romeo.
Morgan Plus 8
…because Morgan.
Porsche 356 C
…because Porsche, and I want to drive it 100,000 miles.
Fiat Dino 2400 Spider
…because it has the Ferrari Dino engine (and noise).
Audi TT
…because I might as well have one modern car, even if it has been discontinued.
In no order:
Audi TT: The Golf chassis is extremely well-sorted. Something tells me that this car would Hoover up fluff.
Honda S2000: Those guys know how to build cars, and this chassis has outperformed supercars at Suzuka.
BMW Z4: The Z8 had huge handling problems in the hands of the less-skilled, although they brought the rear axle as close up behind the cutaway as possible to improve weight distribution. Nevertheless it has done very well in NLS. The Z4 is much more driveable, and it’s BMW.
Toyota MR2: A daily driver that offers an excellent driving experience.
Mercedes 230SL: This model is a bit underpowered but the engine is bulletproof, big brother the 280 won Index of Performance at the Kyalami Nine Hours with practically no mods, and those classic brutal German good looks.
Honorable mention:
Morgan. For enthusiasts only, but like the Z coupes this has done well in NLS.
No nay never, no nay never no more:
Fiat Dino: Fix It Again Tony.
Alfa: I had the misfortune to drive one of these little bitches and attempt to make it go-able.
Porsche 356: Be serious.
1 Porsche “356 C” — But the photo is actually a “Speedster”, and not a 356 C. A much more desirable car. So the Top of my list is the C2 Speedster Please, and as long as were at it – I can’t tell from the photo because I can’t see the rear Grill Let’s just assume it’s the Carrera 2 version of the Speedster. – I know you said no substitutions, but you picked the photos. So I’m going on that basis.
2 The Toyota 2000 GT I’ve only seen the coupe version in person I didn’t know they made an Targa Version.
3 The Jag XK 120 – But I want the Lightweight Aluminum Body Closed Coupe version.
4 The Lotus 7 – an actual original Lotus with the Cosworth Twin Cam ( and not the Chaterham Kit Car ) Again vastly different Cars )
5 The Morgan Plus 8
Oh….. and the MGB in the Photo is a straight “B” and not a MGBGT, which is closed Coupe with a sort of pretend shooting brake rear end.
…..and I could be talked into the Jensen but the rest of the list ( some of which I’ve owned ) is a hard pass ( because I’ve already suffered enough ).
Morgan Plus 8 — just to make the neighbors cry
Porsche 356 C — duh
Jag XK 120 — calling Emma Peel
MG TF — crying neighbors, the sequel
BMW Z4 — ’cause there’s 2 of ’em, paid for, in my garage
Triumph TR4 (honorable mention to the Spitfire, which I thoroughly enjoyed the time I got to drive one)
Mustang (1965)
MG TD
Lotus Caterham (because it looks fum)
Morgan (any model)
Second honorable mention: datsun (not Nissan) 280 Z
The C2 and C3 Corvette Stingrays would have been at the top of my list. Also missing is the Triumph Spitfire 1500 and Fiat 124 Spyder.
My Saturday morning time machine is set for 50 years back. I’ve got a freshly printed DD-214, a brown leather navy pilot’s jacket, a tweed news boy cap, and a few thousand bucks in my pocket. Its early October in northern NJ and northeastern PA back before the area was ruined. There’s a pretty blonde who wants a ride out in the country so let’s see what I can choose. I’ll assume that the magic of time travel has cured the ills of English electrical systems.
Austin Healy 3000 – the Healy Sprite’s big brother. Roomy, reasonably powerful, sophisticated for its day, and oh so good looking.
MGB – every college student had one back in the day but they were fun to drive and good looking cars.
TR4 – In my mind Triumphs had more of a performance image – they were the Pontiac GTO as compared to the doctor’s Buick. Triumph guys had grease under their fingernails and didn’t put the top up if the temperature was above freezing (I speak with some experience here).
Morgan – I’ve only seen one Morgan and that was a 4 cylinder model. Every motor head should have one car that’s almost unobtainable.
Mustang – I’ve told the story of driving cross country in a 66 Mustang. It was a plain coupe – 200 six, 3 speed, AM radio – and the “Way Back” machine takes me back to the days of 30 cent gas, five for a buck White Castle sliders, and watching the sun rise on Route 66 out in the New Mexico desert. A convertible would be even better.
Kim, thanks for taking this old man back 50 years. Today I’ve got a Miata in the driveway next to my F150. Its got power everything, the top doesn’t leak, and the car has never caught fire. Sometimes I can even get in and out of it. Its a great ride but its not the same.
As a former TR4 owner, I’ll confirm the notion that we only put the top up if we had no other choice. There was a reason for that as i’m sure you confirm — Mostly because it was a fifteen minute process to assemble the spindly frame and then attempt to Strech the top to reach the metal Fastners and snaps. Then we had a top the mostly kept the weather out but still had the discolored plastic rear window that you could see not out of.
The Tonneau cover worked just as well , as long as you remembered to wipe off the puddle of water from last night’s rain/moisture before you unzipped it.
1. Lotus / Caterham Seven so I wont end up in a ditch while racing in my country lane.
2. Jensen Interceptor because my brother in law had one and did not leave it to me when he died
3. Morgan Plus 8 so I can drive it while wearing a leather cap and a false moustache, like one of my best friends at uni did.
4. Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider. Would have preferred a white ’64 Giulia because it was my first car, but no substitutes allowed and this is the next best – ugh; red.
5. Jaguar XK120, the most likely motor for me to be killed in – what a way to go!
The numbering does not imply preference – want them all except my number 4.
I am (still) getting ready to buy a car for my daughter to learn to drive stick in. This is right at the top end of what I’m willing to spend on it https://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/d/arvada-2001-audi-tt-2dr-roadster-225hp/7704766639.html
But it might not be the best car for someone who’s still learning to drive, no?
Just a thought –
If you’re buying her a vehicle to learn how to drive a stick –
Ford F150, 6cyl, stick shift – it will stand up to the abuse of someone
learning exactly WHAT a clutch does and why, along with the
the behavior of gears and synchronization !!
When you no longer experience the truck stalling or the crunchy
grinding sound of gears, THEN sell the 150 and buy the Audi or whatever.
It’s like watching your 4 year old play on the swing set ( don’t watch,
your heart won’t take if for long !! ) let the learning be done on something that 1) can take the abuse and 2) doesn’t cost an arm
and a leg.
Your blood pressure will thank you !
She’s around 5’2, and running a clutch on a Real Truck(tm) would be like using the stairmaster at the gym.
I’ll have
The Healy, have always loved them
The 230
The Z4 if it’s a manual. Bonus points if it’s the M variant with the 3.2litre M3 six.
The 356
The Caterham for a focussed driving experience.
The Honda, two Toyotas, and the Mustang (because I love ‘merican muscle)
1: The Mercedes – I’ve always had a soft spot for German cars, and this one would do quite nicely.
2: The Morgan – sexy lines, what else need I say.
3: The Jaguar – sexy lines again.
4: The Sunbeam, just because it’s cute as a bug.
4: The Toyota, just to have something that will probably be reliable.
I wouldn’t be upset if the top three got rearranged. I’d take any of the three if it was offered to me.
Jensen Interceptor. With the 440, not the 383.
Morgan Plus 8. Morgan goodness with the Buick V8. Yes, Buick – Rover just bought the design, they didn’t design it.
Mercedes 230SL, because Pagoda.
Toyota 2000GT, because it’s incredibly beautiful and a good performer.
Jag XK120 because it’s sex on wheels.
Jensen – I thought that some sort of reliability was a factor?
The Mustang. That’s it.
Preferably a ’65 convertible, with factory AC, and the 289/4-speed combo.
Because:
#1. It’s an American classic, and
#2. I can repair everything on it without needing a $10K scanner/computer.
Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider
Because a fellow Air Force officer had one when we were stationed in The Philippines. Fond memories.
Morgan Plus 8
Because I’d get a top hat and tails, along with a formal walking stick when I drove it. I think that’s how one should be dressed when you step out of it.
Ford Mustang
Because a high school friend had one and we used to drive to HS in it. There were three of us, and the pax would take turns getting the passenger seat or the cubby behind the seats. Occasionally he’s let one of us drive. Again fond memories.
MGB GT
Another AF officer friend had one, but back in the states. I always loved the look of the little bug-eyed British roadsters.
Triumph TR4
Same as above. I was on active duty from 1982-1992 and those little sports cars were very popular with junior officers. Hard for me to choose between #1, #4, or #5
Mazda,
Honda,
Mercedes,
Jag,
and TR4 just because.
I’d get two Caterhams. One as a street car and one spec’d out to race.
Neighbor around the corner from us had an old MGB when I was a kid, I’d take one of those too.
Then I’d mooch that Z8 off of you because The World Is Not Enough was my first 007 movie.
And finally, a Mustang because ‘MURICA!
Because the one I would actually want isn’t listed, I’ll take the Mustang. American muscle, American iron.
The one I ACTUALLY want isn’t just no longer in production, but the company badge has been retired as well. It’s admittedly a “chick car,” but I don’t care, as I have always thought it looked like it would be a hoot on a winding mountain road.
The Pontiac Solstice.
A two seater, 4 cylinder, rear wheel drive flop top, with a manual transmission.
It looks cool, retro referencing without making a big show of copying anything in particular, is cheap to drive, and even though other options would beat the pants off it for performance, would give That Driving Experience like few other cars.
Sure, there are other options still around. Mazda, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, whatever.
But the Solstice was an attempt to retake market share from those foreign offerings, returning driving to something one did for the sheer fun of doing, and did so at a price point far more affordable than most.
I spit on GM for killing Pontiac, and with it, the Solstice.
I’m a bit late to this party as I’ve been away.
I’m in the position of having actually owned some of these cars:
Morgan +8, Beautiful to look at, VERY rapid, murder to maintain, totally impractical for day to day work, VERY stiff suspension, not good in the wet, (I slid sidewise the length of Southampton Row).
7 MGBs (Including 1 GT), Not very quick but fun to drive, easy to maintain, go to work with it every day, the exhausts kept on scraping on the ground.
Austin Healey 100/4, the steering wheel was positioned right in front of your chest, murder to maintain, went like stink, stuck to the road, beautiful to look at.
I’d have any of them again, with modern mechanicals.