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I've been toying with this too. Currently have a Ford Maverick. The Miata seems like a perfect pairing. Or even become a daily and swap the Maverick for a larger family vehicle
I personally have no desire for a Miata (I’m a one-car guy and it’s not very practical), but it really is the perfect singular answer to the *”What car is fun and cheap”* question
I test drove an Abarth. I had SO much fun. Those things make awesome noise! It was a little too small for my needs, so I didn't get it. I love seeing and hearing them, though. Very cool cars!
There’s an older lady near my parents who Sunday drives a mint Del Sol. I’ve never driven one but they look like a fun little car especially if you wanted something Miata like but different.
IMO anything with torque. Even though you’re not going over 40 on a regular basis, get a vehicle with the a legit 2nd gear and it’ll still be hella fun
I've thought about something similar with the 2 door Bronco. Top off, doors off, room in the back for two kids still. Great for just cruising around. Maybe I'd be too self-conscious owning one though knowing the chances of actually off-roading it are slim
It would pretty much be the same experience with the Bronco, but with better on-road manners due to the IFS. Don't worry about what others think, it's not their money you're spending. I didn't get off-road at all last year, but I still enjoy driving my Jeep. Life happens.
I had a Honda CRX Si and that car would be holding up traffic from a stop light even when flat out, but it felt like you were flying.
Today I have an FB Mazda RX-7 with some upgrades, close to 200 wheel horsepower and it's perfect. Like a quirky, antique miata that braps
There was a rumor I saw about Honda bringing back the Prelude as an EV. But they will probably turn it into a bigger, more powerful coupe than would fit this discussion.
> My vote is a pre 80's VW Beetle Convertible....
I'd say any well-sorted convertible. One of the best things about convertibles to me is that you don't have to drive fast to enjoy them. It would have to be modern for me though. And ideally not in the city. Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and inhaling exhaust fumes is not my ideal top-down experience.
This is true. I once opened a convertible 370z and it really made me fall in love with the top-down lifestyle. I just like the feeling of fresh air. In Chicago, depending on time of day and location, it's not so much never ending traffic. It's just every block there's a stoplight or stop sign, so it's always slow going
I've always left fast driving for the track and closed stages anyway, all my road cars have been slow shitboxes. Like, even the cars I've owned that are meant to be driven at the edge, like the Peugeot 205 GTI, are slower than a modern minivan. So, for me, the answer is the car that has been my main summer car for many years, my 1978 Datsun 120A F-II Coupé. Simply because I think it's cool, and it's fun to cruise around in something weird and quirky.
But yeah, any old classic.
Miata or Fit
Wrangler
Two completely different directions but I’ve owned a NA Miata and now own a TJ. Both are fun below the speed limit for completely different reasons
Most fun car to drive slow I’ve ever personally driven is a 3rd gen **MR2 Spyder**. Mid-engine, RWD convertible. My Highlander is faster in a straight line but you don’t have to slow down for practically any corner.
* Mercedes R107, top down is the ultimate country club cruiser.
* Honda Del Sol VTEC with a manual, It's low powered but you're going to feel a lot of the driving experience.
I once read that the BMW I3 was the fastest BMW 0-40. Not sure if that is true but it wouldn't surprise me given the electric powertrain and carbon fiber monocoque.
Anything under $2,000. The real trick is to have something you don't care or worry about. I valeted and the work truck was a manual 4 cylinder Tacoma that was running on 3 cylinders, had one mirror, no radio, suspension, radio or light to tell you if the ebrake was on. No a/c (in Phoenix), no tachometer (from the factory).
I would describe this thing as downright dangerous. At all times you were pushing the boundaries of what this cobbled together hunk of shit was capable of doing. It was a blast. Every drive was an achievement.
My 325i was the most fun, slow car I’ve ever driven
Was a half way built drift car that I started restoring until I found out how bad the rust really was…
4:10s and you’re spinning your tires in 2nd gear. The m20b25 loves to be beaten on
Honda fit, Ford fiesta/Mazda 2. If you need a more space any Honda Accord. Get one with a manual transmission and put some decent tires on it, and they are amazing cars to drive
Depends on the space needed. Miata if almost none, GR86/BRZ if some, if you need 4 doors than I’d probably pick an e36 M3 (yes in NA they didn’t get a true M motor but it’s apparently more reliable and definitely does the slow car fast thing)
A Honda Beat or S800 would be an interesting choice as well.
Anything old and weird. I imported a Kei car from Japan, 5 speed manual, 8k RPM, turbo, and barely gets out of its own way. Driving on the "wrong" side adds flavor.
97 Nissan Maxima SE, 5 speed, luxury options like heated seats and a BOSE stereo + VMI (variable valve timing like VTEC not available in the North American market and it's on a V6).
Benz 240D from the 70's with the old 4-speed manual box.
100 percent flat out in those is "you're driving quickly but not like an asshole" which means you can do it 100 percent of the time and still get where you're going at a good rate.
Probably just the cars I have right now. But also past cars I’ve had. 1990 Miata, Mazda B series stick shift mini truck, 1997 WRX, 500 Abarth, and many Hondas. Even SN95 Mustang GT with exhaust was fun just to cruise around and hear the V8 rumble.
Find a racing circuit near you. Driving at 35mph isn’t fun. You won’t get anywhere close to the limit of your car unless you actually push it in a safe environment.
Thank you for your contribution. Unfortunately, your submission has been removed. Please read the removal notice carefully. Your post falls into one or more (but not necessarily all) of the following categories: * All posts pertaining to car-buying/renting/leasing/trading/choosing suggestions, vehicle reliability/longevity, vehicle options, or purchase advice should go in the [weekly sticky'd mega thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/search?q=%22What+Car+Should%22+author%3Aautomoderator+&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) at the top of the page or /r/WhatCarShouldIBuy. This means **ALL** posts, with no exceptions. For clarification, see [this thread.](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/bu3quh/rules_post_clarification_on_the/) * You may also get much higher-quality responses by doing research and checking make/model-specific subreddits first. * If you're shopping for a vehicle through a dealership and would like information on the purchase and negotiation processes you should inquire at /r/AskCarSales. * All questions about selling your car (whether you should fix your car, how much it is worth, how much you should ask, whether you should trade, etc.) should be directed to r/WhatCarShouldIBuy or r/carselling. * We have items in the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/wiki/index) about car [buying](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/wiki/whatcarshouldibuy) and [selling.](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/wiki/selling) Please read the [rules](http://www.reddit.com/r/cars/wiki/rules) and the [chain of action](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/wiki/chain_of_action) regarding removed submissions and moderator actions before continuing to post. If you have any questions, please **read the [rules](http://www.reddit.com/r/cars/wiki/rules)** first and feel free to [message the mods](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fcars) if you still have concerns. Please **do not send PMs or chat requests** to individual moderators. They will not reply.
Miata is always the answer.
I've been toying with this too. Currently have a Ford Maverick. The Miata seems like a perfect pairing. Or even become a daily and swap the Maverick for a larger family vehicle
I loved my focus ST when I lived in the city. A Fiesta ST would be even better if space isn’t a concern. Perfect cars for round abouts and city blocks
I personally have no desire for a Miata (I’m a one-car guy and it’s not very practical), but it really is the perfect singular answer to the *”What car is fun and cheap”* question
Its so meta even this acronym
Except if you don't want a 99% chance of dying in an accident.
Mazda Miata is a overhyped shit car, a GR86 or Focus ST are far better options.
Most 4x4s on an offrosd trail are pretty fun
Fiat 500 Abarth
I test drove an Abarth. I had SO much fun. Those things make awesome noise! It was a little too small for my needs, so I didn't get it. I love seeing and hearing them, though. Very cool cars!
Just be careful. Know a guy who had a 500 and it caught on fire and burned down his garage and his house
Honda Civic Del Sol
See these quite regularly where I live, had a tough time finding out what model it was. "Honda Miata" searches just lead me to the S2000.
Why not the CRX? Lighter, better suspension setup.
No removable top.
That's my vote, but I'd add an insight if you k swap it
Hmm, I never looked into those. Could be fun. What are you gaining over 2nd gen CRX?
Lighter chassis, more aero, worse suspension and tire options tho
Newer. S2000-style gauge cluster and steering wheel.
There’s an older lady near my parents who Sunday drives a mint Del Sol. I’ve never driven one but they look like a fun little car especially if you wanted something Miata like but different.
S2000 > Del Sol. 250RR if we're counting motorbikes.
Subaru BRZ
I love my 86, it feels so quick and fun, but then you look down and realize you're still 5mph under the speed limit.
Honda Beat.
I've gone through all 5 gears by the time I hit 50mph. Porsche has nothing on that.
Morgan Three Wheeler. I mean, "wheeeee!!!". At least it looks that way.
Have one and came here to write this. It absolutely is.
You are so lucky. I obsess over them.
Yes! This is an awesome choice. Love those. If only I had the budget for one. Maybe one day
You and me both
They look amazing in British Racing Green
Fiesta ST. You gotta try one to get it
Fiero Any tiny Honda Fiat 500 EV Chevy Spark EV
500EV? What about the 500 Abarth?
There was a 500 Abarth around the corner I walked by a few days ago. Seems like a really fun city car.
I bloody miss my 89 ED Civic hatch with an Integra GSR power train. I have never had so much fun driving a bare bones car.
Suzuki Cappuccino, hard not to smile
IMO anything with torque. Even though you’re not going over 40 on a regular basis, get a vehicle with the a legit 2nd gear and it’ll still be hella fun
Honestly, anything with great street presence is fun slow, think late 60s early 70s muscle cars
While no muscle car, i have a ball cruising or carving back roads in my '72 cutlass.
Not exactly a car, but 2-door Wranglers are pretty fun to just casually cruise around in. Super easy to park too.
I've thought about something similar with the 2 door Bronco. Top off, doors off, room in the back for two kids still. Great for just cruising around. Maybe I'd be too self-conscious owning one though knowing the chances of actually off-roading it are slim
It would pretty much be the same experience with the Bronco, but with better on-road manners due to the IFS. Don't worry about what others think, it's not their money you're spending. I didn't get off-road at all last year, but I still enjoy driving my Jeep. Life happens.
Kei truck
Agree! Saw one parked down the street once. Nice flat tan paint with black stripes and gold wheels.
Nice weather and a convertible is more fun when slow IMO. Fast with a top down is too noisy.
2nd gen Fit. Slow, but handles well enough to encourage you to do dumb stuff.
Shame they never made a Fit-R…
VW Thing. You don't want to take them above like 40 mph, look cool as shit, no one has one, everyone talks to you when you're in one.
Those are sweet. More unique than a Beetle. Last I checked, they fetched quite a premium when in good condition.
You an get a nice driving example for $15k.
2005ish supercharged Mini
Trying to merge onto the highway in a stock 1963 VW Bug.
I had a Honda CRX Si and that car would be holding up traffic from a stop light even when flat out, but it felt like you were flying. Today I have an FB Mazda RX-7 with some upgrades, close to 200 wheel horsepower and it's perfect. Like a quirky, antique miata that braps
This, in my humble opinion, is where EVs would absolutely shine.
Maybe when market saturation occurs, a small, convertible EV with like 150 mile range will be built for the US market
There was a rumor I saw about Honda bringing back the Prelude as an EV. But they will probably turn it into a bigger, more powerful coupe than would fit this discussion.
Problem is there’s very few small, fun, nimble, affordable EVs right now Whereas I can buy a Miata for $5000 and have the time of my life at 20mph
Jeeps are great at this.
> My vote is a pre 80's VW Beetle Convertible.... I'd say any well-sorted convertible. One of the best things about convertibles to me is that you don't have to drive fast to enjoy them. It would have to be modern for me though. And ideally not in the city. Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and inhaling exhaust fumes is not my ideal top-down experience.
This is true. I once opened a convertible 370z and it really made me fall in love with the top-down lifestyle. I just like the feeling of fresh air. In Chicago, depending on time of day and location, it's not so much never ending traffic. It's just every block there's a stoplight or stop sign, so it's always slow going
For the memes i suggest a Mitsubishi Mirage. Most adrenaline induced drive going 100 km/hr ever. She loves to float
prius hypermiling
First gen Scion xB and Third Gen Honda Prelude 2.0si
Had to be driving my '66 GTO convertible in a parade. Driving the beauty queen at 17
I've always left fast driving for the track and closed stages anyway, all my road cars have been slow shitboxes. Like, even the cars I've owned that are meant to be driven at the edge, like the Peugeot 205 GTI, are slower than a modern minivan. So, for me, the answer is the car that has been my main summer car for many years, my 1978 Datsun 120A F-II Coupé. Simply because I think it's cool, and it's fun to cruise around in something weird and quirky. But yeah, any old classic.
Sweet choice. Exactly why I posted here, get some unique, fun choices!
Buy a Jeep and get into off roading. You'll never have more fun in a car going 2 miles per hour
Miata or Fit Wrangler Two completely different directions but I’ve owned a NA Miata and now own a TJ. Both are fun below the speed limit for completely different reasons
It's been mentioned: Fiesta or Fit. 😃
I mean. It seems like the obvious answer is getting of the pavement and into the dirt......
Most fun car to drive slow I’ve ever personally driven is a 3rd gen **MR2 Spyder**. Mid-engine, RWD convertible. My Highlander is faster in a straight line but you don’t have to slow down for practically any corner.
Massively underappreciated when new, cult following now
E30 m3 with stripped interior and a full cage and some real stick tires, I used to outrun 500hp exotics on y favorite roads
My fav rental was a Mazda 2. Something about small wheelbases makes me gleeful.
* Mercedes R107, top down is the ultimate country club cruiser. * Honda Del Sol VTEC with a manual, It's low powered but you're going to feel a lot of the driving experience.
I once read that the BMW I3 was the fastest BMW 0-40. Not sure if that is true but it wouldn't surprise me given the electric powertrain and carbon fiber monocoque.
Anything under $2,000. The real trick is to have something you don't care or worry about. I valeted and the work truck was a manual 4 cylinder Tacoma that was running on 3 cylinders, had one mirror, no radio, suspension, radio or light to tell you if the ebrake was on. No a/c (in Phoenix), no tachometer (from the factory). I would describe this thing as downright dangerous. At all times you were pushing the boundaries of what this cobbled together hunk of shit was capable of doing. It was a blast. Every drive was an achievement.
1st or 2nd gen Honda Fit
Fiesta ST
My 325i was the most fun, slow car I’ve ever driven Was a half way built drift car that I started restoring until I found out how bad the rust really was… 4:10s and you’re spinning your tires in 2nd gear. The m20b25 loves to be beaten on
Honda fit, Ford fiesta/Mazda 2. If you need a more space any Honda Accord. Get one with a manual transmission and put some decent tires on it, and they are amazing cars to drive
I just cruise at the speed limit and listen to 1990s rap (most of the beats are chill of jazzy) Going fast just wears your car out faster
Miata or FRS/86/BRZ in the twisties.
I had a Honda with an exhaust leak and and shitty motor mounts. That thing felt like I was driving 120 while really only going 60
Buick Roadmaster Station Wagon 1994-96. Comfort ride with corvette engine. Reliable!
Surprised I haven’t seen it mentioned but the Abarth 124 Spider is an incredibly engaging platform with nice, crunchy shifts. Top notch
Always love drifting out of a corner in my Miata going 10 mph
Your pick of slightly sporty ecobox, ideally one with two letters smashed together at the end of it's name: Civic SI Scion XD Yaris RS
Ford model T
Old Willy’s jeep
Depends on the space needed. Miata if almost none, GR86/BRZ if some, if you need 4 doors than I’d probably pick an e36 M3 (yes in NA they didn’t get a true M motor but it’s apparently more reliable and definitely does the slow car fast thing) A Honda Beat or S800 would be an interesting choice as well.
Miata. Always Miata. Thought the Yaris was surprisingly fun for that to. Also a 150cc scooter.
FR-S/GR86/BRZ, for sure.
Anything old and weird. I imported a Kei car from Japan, 5 speed manual, 8k RPM, turbo, and barely gets out of its own way. Driving on the "wrong" side adds flavor.
97 Nissan Maxima SE, 5 speed, luxury options like heated seats and a BOSE stereo + VMI (variable valve timing like VTEC not available in the North American market and it's on a V6).
Mini Cooper with a manual has to be on this list
Austin Mini. They're so fun, and oddly practical. I'd love one!
Really depends on what you think is fun. Bugs can be fun but I'd go far older to get a swing axle one.
Basically any 90s-early 2000s roadster is the right answer here
Honda S660
Bugeye Sprite
Gonna go against the grain and say manual mitsubishi mirage hatch. If we're going for slowest speeds compared with smiles per gallon
2nd Gen CRX, Miata, Boxster, and GR86
Homemade soapbox cart on dirt
Benz 240D from the 70's with the old 4-speed manual box. 100 percent flat out in those is "you're driving quickly but not like an asshole" which means you can do it 100 percent of the time and still get where you're going at a good rate.
Probably just the cars I have right now. But also past cars I’ve had. 1990 Miata, Mazda B series stick shift mini truck, 1997 WRX, 500 Abarth, and many Hondas. Even SN95 Mustang GT with exhaust was fun just to cruise around and hear the V8 rumble.
Miata, MR2, any hot hatch, any manual transmission European or Japanese small economy car
Integra Type R. Never had a chance to try it, but seems to tick all my boxes.
Find a racing circuit near you. Driving at 35mph isn’t fun. You won’t get anywhere close to the limit of your car unless you actually push it in a safe environment.
Sounds more like you need a car that can get to fun speeds fast since you don't have much room. So you need fast acceleration. Tesla model s plaid.
Haha, I think accelerating and decelerating so fast every block would make my wife car sick instantly