QOTD: What Do You Prioritize in a Sports Car?

by Tim Healey

Published: September 25th, 2024

qotd what do you prioritize in a sports car

I wrote a mini-review of the 2024 Toyota GR86 today, and I mentioned how that car, when it first launched as a Scion, was criticized for being a fun handler that was lacking in power.

I also noted that its power has improved over the years, though it's still no V8 Mustang. It is quicker off the line than it used to be, but that's not just a matter of power -- it's not a heavy car.

So, I ask of you, if you're buying a sporty car, what do YOU care about?

Do you want a lightweight handler like the GR86 or the Mazda Miata? A big, powerful car that also handles well like a Ford Mustang GT? A straight-line mauler like a Hellcat Challenger or Charger? A big, luxury sedan with a sport setup like a BMW M3? Or something else?

Personally, I like sporty commuter cars -- think Honda Civic Si, Volkswagen GTI, that sort of thing. Though I will always have a soft spot for all the other types of performance vehicle -- fun is fun.

Now it's your turn. What say you?

Sound off below.

[Image: Mazda]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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2 of 67 comments

Pipedown on Sep 27, 2024
This post made me remember the first car I ever drove that was "sporty". Up until this point, I had driven an 83 Cavalier, a freebie 83 Citation, an 84 Delta 88, and my Dad's recently acquired 1975 Pinto (manual.. I think this was 1992ish). I had recently learned to drive a manual on the Pinto and was immediately smitten. A friend showed up at my house in his mom's late eighties manual Mazda 323. However it happened, I ended up driving the 323 on some back roads.. this is in northern NJ.. practically every road is a back road). At the first turn, I knew something was different.... pushed harder into the next turn and the car just felt amazing. I had never felt anything like it. I started raving about the car, and my non-car people friends were just like.. dude, this is shitbox. LOL I kept saying, no way.. this is a GREAT car. That was the day of my enlightening.

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Poltergeist on Sep 27, 2024
Manual transmission, cornering grip and steering feel are all I need. 2020 Evora GT has all of that in spades....so that's what I bought.

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