Best Handling Cars

[Jason Harris 31]

It amazes me how frickin' expensive cars are.

I bought a new car today, and it's bemusing that I felt $22,8K was a really good price. Then we qualified for a loan that was the best rate that Capital One offers and I couldn't believe we were still looking at $470 per month. When you throw in insurance and taxes, I can't figure why I see so many $30K+ vehicles on the road. Our household income is pretty decent, yet there's no way I'd want to pay $1000-$1200 per month toward two automobiles. I see it all the time, though.

I think the thing that really scares me is how much will cars cost when my daughters graduate from college (12-14 years)? It's not like we're going to turn into a country that stops driving, so how are they going to afford $20K+ for an entry level car when they have a entry level job?

[LegoDoom 0]

It amazes me how frickin' expensive cars are.

I bought a new car today, and it's bemusing that I felt $22,8K was a really good price. Then we qualified for a loan that was the best rate that Capital One offers and I couldn't believe we were still looking at $470 per month. When you throw in insurance and taxes, I can't figure why I see so many $30K+ vehicles on the road. Our household income is pretty decent, yet there's no way I'd want to pay $1000-$1200 per month toward two automobiles. I see it all the time, though.

I think the thing that really scares me is how much will cars cost when my daughters graduate from college (12-14 years)? It's not like we're going to turn into a country that stops driving, so how are they going to afford $20K+ for an entry level car when they have a entry level job?

You should try writing a $1700+ check every month for one car. That's a novelty that never wears off.

[topshelf96 0]

Im kinda surprised nobody has mentioned the infinity g-35. Its really quick and has nice handling if u ask me.The Nissan 350z is also a sweet ride.

[Thockey17 1]

Then we qualified for a loan that was the best rate that Capital One offers and I couldn't believe we were still looking at $470 per month.

Consider yourself lucky, then. Im paying close to $470 a month on insurance alone, with a clean record.

[Vapor 0]

Im kinda surprised nobody has mentioned the infinity g-35. Its really quick and has nice handling if u ask me.The Nissan 350z is also a sweet ride.

I had a G years ago. Its not a great handeling car. Its quick enough but its limit in the corners isnt much.

it's a C5 Z06. And he isn't the best driver but other people that are good drivers have driven it and the only reason it beats the BMW on the roadcourse is because of the power on the straights. The M3 turns on a dime, I've driven both and I can attest that the BMW turns quite a bit tighter than the Z06, probably because of the size of the corvette.

Your telling me that the 3400 lb m3 will outhandle a 3100 vette with IRS? The M3 is also underpowerd and also has no torque due to its sad 3.2L of displacment.

I have driven both a c5 coupe (base model) and an m3. The coupe has headers and full exaust. It makes more power that a z06 and has none of the suspension upgrades. The c5 is much more nimble than the m3 by a long shot. It wasnt even close. I mena I guess it could come down to tires. The vette did have GSD3s which are some of the best road tires avalible. The m3 was on stock rubber. Vette>me any day of the week, it will never win in any race.

The vette does a .96 on the skidpad while the m3 pulls .91.

[TBLfan 25]

Im kinda surprised nobody has mentioned the infinity g-35. Its really quick and has nice handling if u ask me.The Nissan 350z is also a sweet ride.

I had a G years ago. Its not a great handeling car. Its quick enough but its limit in the corners isnt much.

it's a C5 Z06. And he isn't the best driver but other people that are good drivers have driven it and the only reason it beats the BMW on the roadcourse is because of the power on the straights. The M3 turns on a dime, I've driven both and I can attest that the BMW turns quite a bit tighter than the Z06, probably because of the size of the corvette.

Your telling me that the 3400 lb m3 will outhandle a 3100 vette with IRS? The M3 is also underpowerd and also has no torque due to its sad 3.2L of displacment.

I have driven both a c5 coupe (base model) and an m3. The coupe has headers and full exaust. It makes more power that a z06 and has none of the suspension upgrades. The c5 is much more nimble than the m3 by a long shot. It wasnt even close. I mena I guess it could come down to tires. The vette did have GSD3s which are some of the best road tires avalible. The m3 was on stock rubber. Vette>me any day of the week, it will never win in any race.

The vette does a .96 on the skidpad while the m3 pulls .91.

The M3, as I already said, is not stock. It has a suspension upgrade and performance tires. Also a few other mods that make it faster(engine is still N/A). The M3 is a 97 so it's still the old smaller body, but yeah it's heavy... What helps it's handling is the near 50/50 weight distribution. I'm telling you, with my friend's corvette it seems like theres a lag between steering and the back end with the BMW it's fluid, like it should be. I've wanted a corvette all my life, but the handling of the BMW has won me over.

[Jason Harris 31]

You should try writing a $1700+ check every month for one car. That's a novelty that never wears off.

Yes, I think I'd be gulping each month I had to write a check like that. Which is why I'd switch to Auto Pay to make the medicine more painless.... :D

Seriously, however, disregarding the adage that "Doctors and lawyers are just as broke as the rest of us, just on a higher level," I would imagine that someone writing a $1700 check probably can afford to do so far more than the family making $60K and owning two $25K+ vehicles.

Then we qualified for a loan that was the best rate that Capital One offers and I couldn't believe we were still looking at $470 per month.

Consider yourself lucky, then. Im paying close to $470 a month on insurance alone, with a clean record.

Wow! Over five grand a year in insurance alone????

Man, I was bummed a couple of years ago when we both got our first tickets in years and our joint insurance went from $900 to $2400 for the year. How the hell could they be reaming you so badly with a clean driving record??

[TBLfan 25]

age/vehicle/gender

[Jason Harris 31]

age/vehicle/gender

44 / minivan / neutered a few years ago.... ;)

[Hockeypunk 0]

if your looking for something affordable stay far away from any german cars. Audi, VW, BMW etc. They are all over rated, over priced and have horrible reliability. Then add on the cost pf parts and labor for when the vehicles has a problem which it will trust me. Stay far away from german cars.

If I was looking for a inexpensive good handling car I would pick up a mrkII MR2 turbo. Lightweight, balanced, decent power and one hell of an aftermarket.

[tokes 0]

The M3, as I already said, is not stock. It has a suspension upgrade and performance tires. Also a few other mods that make it faster(engine is still N/A). The M3 is a 97 so it's still the old smaller body, but yeah it's heavy... What helps it's handling is the near 50/50 weight distribution. I'm telling you, with my friend's corvette it seems like theres a lag between steering and the back end with the BMW it's fluid, like it should be. I've wanted a corvette all my life, but the handling of the BMW has won me over.

Here I thought we were talking about an E46 M3, which is atleast somewhat in the same league as a C5 vette, but an E36? That is straight up laughable. For starters, without forced induction or a newer M3 engine swap an E36 is always going to get crushed in a straight line by a C5, you're down 100HP to start and the LS1 responds much, much better to mods. C5's are 51/49 weight distribution, so there's zero advantage to an M3 right there, and suspension upgrade or not you are not touching a Z06 with a near stock M3, especially an E36. The C5 pulls a full .1G's more on the skidpad STOCK, and that isn't being made up without some serious mods.

[Vapor 0]

LOL. I thought we were talking about an E46 too. But an E36 with that lil engine! A C4 would kicked the e36s ass.

[TBLfan 25]

I SAID that it(Z06) beats the M3 in the road course but only because of the power, the M3 turns much tighter. But of course I'm only speaking as someone who has driven both these actual cars that I'm speaking of, not going by numbers or by what the stock cars feel like.

Just out of curiousity, what are the numbers on the slalom for a 2000 Z06 and a stock 97 M3?

[tokes 0]

I SAID that it(Z06) beats the M3 in the road course but only because of the power, the M3 turns much tighter. But of course I'm only speaking as someone who has driven both these actual cars that I'm speaking of, not going by numbers or by what the stock cars feel like.

My uncle owns a FRC, my best friend owned a Z06 when he still lived here, and my Dad owned a 97 Coupe for a while. One of my friends from high school had a 96 M3 that I drove a bit, and my cousin owns an E46 (2001) M3. This summer I'm finishing testing and courses to become a NASA Group 4 instructor, I have over a dozen HPDE's under my belt (Buttonwillow, Beaverun, Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Sebring), worked on a friends Honda Challenge car, and I'm an SCCA north pacific member.

But you're right, I should probably listen to you when you tell me an E36 with some suspension mods would rock a Z06's world.

[TBLfan 25]

You should probably read what I said because I did NOT say that it would rock the Z06's world. Do you know the difference between better handling and overall speed? How many times do I have to explain it to you? The Z06 is MUCH faster, the M3 turns quicker. That in NO way means that the M3 rocks the Z06's world.

[Vapor 0]

But that simply is not true. If you are going to make an argument between cars in the first place they both must be stock. But the m3 is just not a better handeling car, especially the E36. Even with a complete suspension package, sticky tires, and bigger breaks the z06 is still going to outhandle it.

[TBLfan 25]

I found something close to what I was looking for. The slalom results for a 2001 z06 and a 1997 M3, both stock.

Corvette : Slalom (mph): 62.6

M3 : Slalom 69.4 MPH

I wish the web sites were better, but I'll look for some results from the same source.

Corvette

BMW

The slalom would be a better test of how fast a car can turn and change direction than a skidpad. As you can see based on these two sites the BMW does quite a bit better than the Z06. I'm still going to look for more results though.

*edit - after looking for a few mins I'm not finding any more results for '97 BMWs. If you guys have any ideas where else I might find this information please let me know.

[tokes 0]

Slalom numbers between different tests is a horrible, horrible comparison. Especially considering neither of those tests list the size of slalom, or spacing of cones.

[TBLfan 25]

hence the reason why I said twice that I wish they were from the same source and that I would try to find more results... Which after 12 mins I gave up on, since I don't really care about what you guys think(since I know what results I'm getting after driving both cars).

[Nigel 0]

3rd generation ('88-91) Honda Prelude with 4WS (4 wheel steering). try it, you will be amazed. and it will definitely not break your bank.

"In 1987, Road & Track published a test summary that shows the 1988 Honda Prelude 2.0Si 4WS out slalomed every car of that year, including all Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches. It went through the slalom at 65.5 mph, which was amazing in those days. For reference, the 1988 Corvette did the same at 64.9 mph."

[Vapor 0]

hence the reason why I said twice that I wish they were from the same source and that I would try to find more results... Which after 12 mins I gave up on, since I don't really care about what you guys think(since I know what results I'm getting after driving both cars).

Its just not possible. Maybe you are just more comfertable with the m3, it has less power and torque so maybe you felt more comfertable. You were also probably cornering slower. And the cars werent stock either, so its a poor comparison.

[TBLfan 25]

hence the reason why I said twice that I wish they were from the same source and that I would try to find more results... Which after 12 mins I gave up on, since I don't really care about what you guys think(since I know what results I'm getting after driving both cars).

Its just not possible. Maybe you are just more comfertable with the m3, it has less power and torque so maybe you felt more comfertable. You were also probably cornering slower. And the cars werent stock either, so its a poor comparison.

I do agree that it's not a fair comparison, but I'm not budging on this until we find numbers on a slalom that are unbiased and from a reputable source. I just feel that the c5 corvette, although an amazing car, just doesn't turn and weave as fast. The M3 or even stock 325s that I've been in feel tighter.

[Vapor 0]

I can say my old Mas outhandled an enzo, but its just not true. I may be more use to my car and know where its limit is, so I will feel it handles better, but its just not true. Just because it felt tighter dosent mean it is. It may be that you arent use to the car. A professional driver will be able to corner the vette much better than the m3.

[tbintexas 0]

Kovy - there are a lot of options. You never stated price??? The banter between Z06 vs M3 doesn't really fit in the 'affordable' bracket you had stated (in my world anyways)...

If it were me, I'd buy a Porsche 944 Turbo (951) - very quick, handle great, inexpensive to buy, but you have to be able to wrench on it yourself or it'll cost you a fortune (so will BMW's ect. if they are 20 years old).

Again, if we know the price, then we'll be able to give you a better idea!

[TBLfan 25]

whatever, I'm tired of arguing. Find me something other than a skidpad numbers(which proves nothing about real world handling) that proves to me that the Z06 outhandles the M3. Until then it's nothing but he said she said.

Like I said before, find me some slalom numbers that proves you're right.