Top 10 Fun-to-Drive Cars

Do not be fooled: the sports cars are fun to drive, but not only cars that can provide the excitement behind the wheel. No need to sacrifice rear seat or a monthly fee so steep that you eat only ramen noodles to enjoy driving your car. We have a detailed model of 1910, that are fun beyond all expectations. Some are sports cars, while others are families or first home. What have the excellent performance that sets them apart from competitors.

Won't Break the Bank

2011 Ford Mustang

The Mustang has always been fun to drive, in a raw, muscle-car way. The 2011 is so much more refined that it now competes with what most people consider to be sports cars. It gets the nod because it beat the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in our comparison test and because the V-6 model's 305 horsepower and 31 mpg highway are staggeringly good for the price.

2011 Mazda3

Affordable cars are becoming better performers, and the Mazda3 stands among the best. Spot-on steering, strong brakes and responsive drivetrains will make the daily commute a bit of fun. Want more? The turbocharged MazdaSpeed3 hits 60 mph in a blistering 5.2 seconds — muscle-car numbers from a hatchback that's less than $24,000.

2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata

From its specs alone, you might be wondering how the Miata made this list. It has a four-cylinder engine, and at 158 hp it doesn't sound like it would be a driver's car. Numbers don't always tell the whole story, and with the Miata, driving is believing. Great balance, precise steering and an available short-throw manual shifter all contribute to an exceptional driving experience at an affordable price.
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Fuel-Efficient Enjoyment

2011 Honda CR-Z

Add a hybrid powertrain to a small, lightweight sport coupe and you get what could be called the first sport hybrid for the masses. The all-new CR-Z has three selectable drive modes. One is for maximum mileage, but Sport mode completely changes the driving dynamics for a sportier ride. For the driving enthusiast, that's the mode that will be on all the time.

2011 Mini Cooper

The 37-mpg Cooper is among the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars around. Don't let its modest 121 hp fool you: On sweeping curves, you can put the hatchback into four-wheel drifts. Excellent handling need not require extra power, but if you want it, the turbocharged Mini Cooper S moves out.

Family-Friendly

2011 Mazda CX-9

Having a family vehicle doesn't mean you can't enjoy road trips and carpools. The CX-9 is one of many three-row crossovers on the market, but it's the only one that exudes sportiness from all angles, including the driver's seat. The steering is precise, and the engine is no slouch, even when the crossover is loaded down with kids and cargo.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

The Kizashi is as fun to drive as it is to say. Smaller and nimbler than the reigning family cars, it packs road manners and ride quality that are both a cut above. The Kizashi is a refreshing break from the suburban troupe of Toyota, Honda and Ford sedans. If your neighbors ask why you got a Suzuki, a quick ride should turn them into believers.

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

The little-known Tiguan is an exceptionally fun-to-drive compact crossover. The base front-wheel-drive trim level comes with a manual transmission, which Honda's and Toyota's models lack. Also, it has the excellent turbocharged four-cylinder with direct injection that has breathed new life into many Volkswagen models. Its relatively short wheelbase makes it nimble, feeling more like a car than SUV.

Fun, Bar None

2011 BMW 3 Series/M3

The BMW 3 Series is legendary in enthusiast circles for good reason. It's an entertaining driver's car, and the one we'd take in a heartbeat to attack our favorite back roads. The high-powered M3 is a track-ready variant that doesn't give up any of the base model's commendable ride comfort. Many automakers have tried to copy the 3 Series formula; some have come close, but none have equaled it.

2010 Porsche Cayman S

Frankly, we could fill half this list with Porsche models. Porsche is about performance, which equals fun. Why the Cayman? Because it's one of the most affordable Porsches, second only to its roadster sister, the Boxster. The 911 is so unflappable that it's almost boring to drive unless you're on a racetrack. The Cayman is fun to drive in normal circumstances, especially in its S form.

Sebring 12 Hours Looks Like a NASCAR Race

Ferrari 458 crash at 2011 12 Hours of Sebring
Photo by Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Race winning Peugeot 908 at 2011 12 Hours of Sebring

Maaco Fremont watched the 59th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring on ESPN.  We thought we were watching a NASCAR event instead of American Le Mans. Endurance racing used to be tough enough without worring about other racers hitting you on purpose. No longer. Drivers bumped & grinded all 12 hours. Cars were destroyed, carried back to the pits, rebuilt and went back out on the track. Favorites from Audi & Ferrari were totaled allowing Peugeot to win overall for the 2nd year in a row and BMW to win the GT2 class.

Here's footage from one of the big crashes that took out the Ferrari 458:

New Porsche Cayman S Black Edition

Porsche is once again making use of its “Black Edition” nameplate for one of its models, this time for the Cayman S, which benefits from a power boost and additional standard equipment. Limited to 500 units worldwide, the Cayman S Black Edition features an upgraded version of the 3.4-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, with output increased by 10 horsepower to 330HP at 7,400 rpm (200 rpm higher). Maximum torque remains unchanged, however, at 370 Nm (273 lb-ft) at 4,750 rpm.

The added ponies allow the Cayman S Black Edition to complete the standard sprint to 100km/h (62mph) 0.1 seconds faster at 5.1 seconds when the car is fitted with a six-speed manual transmision. With the optional Porsche PDK double-clutch box, the car performs even better achieving the sprint in 5 seconds flat.

For those still unimpressed, the limited edition Cayman can shave a further 0.2 seconds off the 0-100 km/h time with the optional Sport Chrono package and Launch Control activated. Top speed is also 2 km/h higher than on the standard Cayman S, with the Black Edition reaching 279 km/h (173 mph) with the manual transmission, and 277 km/h (172 mph) with the PDK gearbox.

As you've probably noticed by taking a peek at the photos, the Black Edition name comes from the extensive use of black on the car's body and the interior. The bodywork and the 19-inch wheels are painted black, while the headlights are smoked as well. Inside, the car sports a black dashboard, gear lever and instrument dials and the “Black Edition” inscription on the stainless steel sills. The lid of the glove compartment bears the badge of the limited edition with the production number below.

The Cayman S Black Edition's standard equipment includes Bi-Xenon headlights with dynamic cornering function and LED daytime running lights, anti-dazzle interior and exterior mirrors with integrated rain sensor, black seats with partial leather upholstery, automatic climate control, Sport Design steering wheel and cruise control. In addition, the Porsche Comfort, Infotainment and Design packages are also included. The starting price in Germany for the Cayman S Black Edition is €67,807 ($98,500), including VAT, while U.S. prices are even much lower starting from $67,500 (€45,600).

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Schmidt Revolution Releases Light Tune for Porsche Panamera 4S

Porsche Panamera Schmidt RevolutionThe Porsche Panamera continues to draw attention from Europe’s aftermarket tuners, only this time, Schmidt Revolution’s proposal for the sports saloon is far more subtle than what we’re used to.

Porsche Panamera Schmidt RevolutionThe German tuner starts with a standard Panamera 4S, which leaves Porsche’s factory with a 4.8-liter V8 engine churning out 400-horses and 500Nm of peak torque. The performance modifications, courtesy of Rennsport, include a software optimization (€990 or about US$1,443) that increase output to 425HP and 535Nm, along with a suspension module (€390 or around US$568) that lower’s the ride height by 40mm and sport exhaust system (€590 or about US$860).

Porsche Panamera Schmidt RevolutionKey to the package is a new set of 22-inch alloy wheels from Schmidt Revolution wrapped in tires size 265/30 R22 at the front and 305/25 R22 at the back (€4,900 or about US$7,141).

Porsche Panamera Schmidt RevolutionSchmidt Revolution said that it is also working on an interior package with bespoke leathers and trim, details of which will be released at a later date.

New Porsche Panamera Diesel

European Porsche shoppers will soon have the option of ordering a diesel-powered version of the Panamera sports saloon. The most fuel-efficient model of the Panamera range is equipped with a Porsche-tuned version of the VW Group’s widely used 3.0-liter V6 TDI employing common rail direct injection technology and electrically controlled variable geometry turbochargers (VGTs).

The six-cylinder unit produces a maximum output of 250HP (184 kW) between 3,800 rpm and 4,400 rpm and a peak torque of 550Nm (405.7 lb-ft) available from 1,750 rpm to 2,750 rpm. The V6 is hooked up to an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission while a start/stop system comes as standard. The Panamera Diesel is offered exclusively with rear-wheel drive.

With the standard tires, the diesel-powered Panamera returns a combined fuel consumption of 6.5 lt/100 km (equal to 36.2mpg US or 43.5mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of 172 g/km CO2. Opt for the low rolling resistance tires, and the aforementioned numbers drop to 6.3 lt/100 km (equal to 37.3mpg US or 44.8mpg UK) and 167 g/km CO2 respectively. The 80-liter tank allows a theoretical range in excess of 1,200 kilometers (746 miles).

In comparison, the Panamera Hybrid that makes use of a 333HP 3.0-liter V6 TSI gasoline engine and a 47HP electric motor returns 6.8 lt/100 km (34.6 mpg US.) with CO2 emissions of 159 g/km when equipped with low rolling resistance tires.

Porsche says the Panamera Diesel can accelerate from a standing start to 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.8 seconds en route to a top speed of 242km/h (150 mph).

Sales of the Panamera Diesel will start in Europe this August with prices starting from €80,183 (US$119,200) in Germany and from £62,134 (US$92,300) in the UK.

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Porsche 911 GT3 500HP

The new 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is Porsche's ultimate street-legal track racer and a fitting farewell to the current 911 series, codenamed 997, which will soon be replaced by an all-new model set to be unwrapped at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
There’s a lot to like about the new GT3 RS including the fact that it is fitted with the largest engine ever to be mounted on a factory-approved 911; a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six unit that develops 500 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, 50 horses more than the standard GT3 RS. It is also the most powerful 911 naturally aspirated engine with 125 horsepower per liter. The engine carries the crankshaft from the 911 GT3 RSR racing car, while the forged pistons' connecting rods are made from titanium.
The impressive output and peak torque of 460 Nm (339 lb-ft) at 5,750 rpm help the sports car achieve stunning performance, such as the Nürburgring-Nordschleife lap time of 7 minutes 27 seconds, 1.7 seconds faster than the Carrera GT and 6 seconds faster than the GT3 RS. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a six-speed sports transmission with gearing designed for the circuit. Porsche says the car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and to 200 km/h (124 mph) in under 12 seconds.
The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 uses motor racing suspension components and weight-saving materials such as carbon fiber for the bonnet and front wings, plastic for the rear windows, light bucket seats and even weight-optimized carpets. As a result, the car tips the scales at just 1,360 kilograms (2,998 lbs) with a full tank of fuel. The power-to-weight ratio is an amazing 2.72 kg/hp, as very few production cars drop under the threshold of 3 kilograms per horsepower.
On the outside, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is finished in white as standard and comes with optional “RS 4.0” decals. It is also distinguished by the wide track and low stance, a large rear wing with adapted side plates and central twin tailpipes. The front bumper sports lateral air deflection vanes, which make their appearance for the first time on a production Porsche. They increase downforce on the front axle and in combination with the rear wing push the car onto the road with an additional 190 kg (426 lbs) of aerodynamic force at top speed.
The car will launch in Germany in July 2011 with a starting price of €178,596, taxes included. In the U.S., the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 will cost $185,000 (excluding destination charges) and will go on sale in late 2011. Production will be limited to just 600 units worldwide.

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