For those afflicted by the automotive hobby in their youth, the hero car is a common phenomenon. Whether it’s a Ferrari F40 or a Lexus LFA, there are always the untouchables that are nothing short of canonized. As age and wisdom build, some of those hero cars can lose their luster, but some of us still have those machines that we hold in great regard, even if we’ll likely never drive one. Maybe it’s the experience that comes with the job, but finding a personal example took a bit of searching because I’m generally a skeptic.
Unless I have prior experience with a powertrain or chassis, just about any car could go either way. However, there is one exception for me, just because spec sheets and period road tests give enough information to suggest that it’s probably fun. Yep, it’s the TVR Sagaris.
With a 406-horsepower four-liter inline-six, a five-speed manual gearbox, a curb weight of 2,731 pounds, and styling from Mars, the TVR Sagaris sounds like an absolute riot. More importantly, it seems better built than most TVR models, with Evo writing:
So instead of reporting on a sexier, more savage Sagaris, I’m here to tell you about things like washer jets fixed to the scuttle instead of floppy rubber tubes lashed to the windscreen wipers; supportive Sparco seats that don’t wobble during hard acceleration, braking or cornering; new floor-hinged pedals made with a curve so that you don’t have to overextend your ankles to fully depress the clutch or accelerator; tailgate glass with a beautiful alloy latch instead of a recess designed solely to pinch your fingers; rear-exiting exhausts that spit and pop but don’t resonate; and bodywork that doesn’t act as a trap for every leaf, granite chipping and errant cigarette butt. The list goes on.
Properly quick, lightweight, and built with some semblance of care sounds like a winning formula. The TVR Sagaris is probably good fun, even if it’s still a TVR, so things like ergonomics aren’t a massive concern. I still want one, because really, it seems like a difficult vehicle to go wrong with, provided you start with the right set of expectations.
So, what car are you convinced is great even though you’ve never driven it? Whether you idolize the R32 Skyline GT-R or just know intrinsically that the C6 Corvette ZR1 is spectacular, I’d love to hear your answers in the comments below.
(Photo credits: TVR)
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Ferrari F40. I havent stopped dreaming of this car since I first saw it all those years ago.
I’m fully convinced a Dino wouldn’t disappoint. Between the song of a narrow-angle transverse V6, lightweight construction and gated manual it’s just a winning formula made by people who cared a lot and had no reason to hold back. Even more so its twin, the Staros. Likewise, the Fulvia and Alpine A110, which share my maybe-one-day-attainable dream car slot, can’t possibly be boring in my mind. I can’t imagine a 240Z 432 being anything short of a riot to drive, and any level of boredom in an Elise would straight-up shatter my worldview.
Tossup between:
E30 BMW M3
or
MB 190E
I love the idea of both of these cars, but I’m certain both cars are probably better in my mind than they are when compared to a modern vehicle of today. I’m sure a modern VW GTI would run circles around both of them.
The Fiat Multipla. They’re not available in my country, but I’m 300% sure it’s roomy, nimble and versatile. Plus, quirky as heck
David has convinced me that the i3 REX is an engineering marvel.
Engineering marvel maybe, but I have no doubt that every part of the driving experience is quite terrible.
The prompt says cars you hold in high regard, not necessarily great driver’s cars. 🙂 Correct me if I’m wrong, but one look at those 155/60R20s up front has me absolutely convinced that it drives terribly.
Exactly. With no personal experience, a carbon fiber German toaster thing with super skinny high pressure low profile tires sounds like a recipe for a quite uncomfortable ride.
Lotus Exige/Elise. Light and fun sportscar.
I have driven and can confirm they are great. According to those I know that own them, they are still very British when it comes to maintaining them.
As a former owner, it’s a mixed bag. Most of the drivetrain is Toyota and as problem-free and simple as you’d expect there. The rest is very British, but unlike Astons or Jaguars the Elise has the absolute bare minimum of “everything else”. No extra motors or unnecessary electronics to fail. I did have to replace the climate control fan resistor, which was a fairly cheap part but labor would have been a couple thousand if I’d had to have someone else do it.
Duesenberg, one of those with the supercharged straight-8 engine.
Maybe a Pagani Huyara
Possibly a Konigsegg
And definitely a Lancia Stratos and Type 037.
The NSX my Acura dealer kept parked in between the lobby and the service desk for the entire time I owned my Integra. I had to look at it while waiting for my car, walk past it to go to the restroom, back and forth for years. The bastard.
Toss-up between Ferrari Testarossa and Porsche 944 turbo. Dream cars from my teenage years
A top fuel dragster. There is no way it isn’t an absolute assault on your senses.
Auburn 851 Boattail Speedster. The one car I have dreamed about since I was a little kid. I still drive my Hot Wheels version around on my desk during long Zoom calls.
Tesla Roadster 1st gen
TVR Speed 12
Lotus Elise
Alfa Romeo 4C
Opel Speedster
Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Coupe
Panhard CD Peugeot 66C
Lotus Elite
Matra Djet
Ferrari 250GTO
Costin Nathan
Ginetta G4
…and so many, many more that I will probably never get a chance to try… ;_;
Oh wow classy choice, the Djet. The whole list screams impeccable taste in cars, to be honest.
There is not a single new car available in the USA that appeals to me. And I love EV drive systems.
Everything is bloated, lacking in aerodynamic efficiency, overweight, complicated, and tech laden. Not to mention, expensive.
The closest new cars that appeal to me are the Tesla Model 3 Performance and the Mazda Miata MX5 RF, and not enough for me to buy either.
The only car I currently own is a Triumph GT6, converted to electric. It weighs slightly less than it did stock running on an internal combustion engine.
Tons (because I’m cheap and can only look at nice cars):
Porsche 911
Mazda Miata
Toyota Land Cruiser
Range Rover
VW Vanagon Synchro
M-B S Class
Ferrari 288 GTO
DeTomaso Pantera.
You’ll never convince me it’s not a near-Platonic combination of Italian style and American durability that I could drive around nearly every day, afford to keep running, and not freak out when it does break down.
Fix the cooling and the brakes and they make a great daily, at least according to my grandpa who built nasty ones back in the day.
Yeah 351 parts are cheap and easy to get.
1959 Cadillac Coup Deville convertible. Does it go like stink, handle like it’s on rails, or stop on a dime? Nope. It just wafts along, and just backing it out of your garage is practically a parade.
V12 Century. The era where Toyota did things to prove a point, and did those things better than just about everyone
Porsche 917/30
Also, the 914
If we’re talking concept cars that didn’t get made: Suzuki C2. Miata-sized 2 seater convertible with a 1.6L twin turbo V8 under the hood. That would have been an absolute hoot to drive.
If we’re talking cars that did exist but not in the country: Lancer Evo V was my favorite car in Gran Turismo.
CGT
Lotus Espirit V8 twin turbo. I mean, it’s almost affordable these days, goes like stink, and handles like it’s on rails. Or so I’ve heard.
Any Hyundai N. They get mentioned in the comments of nearly every article 🙂
*no shade intended*
by one commenter
We know exactly who you’re talking about and I always look forward to their comments 😉
He’s far better than the Ye Olde Lighting Site which has that one dude who just. wont. stop. talking. about the 1969 Charger as if it’s Gods Gift to Mankind and should be cherished more than life itself.
Haven’t been to the old site since this one became a thing, but I remember that dude. Is he still dying on that hill?
I only rarely go on the old site when work is extremely slow, but he’s still on nearly every post on the exact same hill, or a tangentially related MOPAR hill. Reminds me why I left that site
That place started becoming less fun to visit well before Jason and David left, but when they did so did I. They were the only reason I hung around. You couldn’t read one of their articles without seeing some terrible suggested article designed to get you mad penned by one of their sister sites.
Same.
I bailed on the old site completely once they poached Mercedes. She was the only reason I kept reading both.
Any Duesenberg. You probably feel like some combination of Curella Deville, the Monopoly Man, and I’m not even sure.
This is a great answer. Driving one of those things at 100+ mph when most of the Model Ts on the road could barely do 40 must have been god-like.
I mean, I’m convinced the McLaren F1 is good even though I’ve never even stood near one.
More attainably, I generally believe the good things I’ve heard about M3s even though I’ve never been behind the wheel.
Some others:
-GT350
-C8 Corvette
-Bronco Raptor
-LC500
-TRX and Raptor R
-ND Miata
I can’t speak to the high end stuff, but I can promise you the ND is very, very good
All excellent choices. Never driven any of them, but I’m with you that they’d all be fun.
I stood near an F1. It was a magical experience. I can only dream how good it is to ride in, much less drive.
FD RX-7