Automotive Forums

Consumer Reports, the bible for the average car buyer (enthusiasts have a different holy book), recently published what they consider the top five sporty cars. They are in no particular order:

Honda Civic Si

Ford Focus ST

Volkswagen GTI

Mazda MX-5 (formerly known as the Miata)

Pontiac Solstice


Opinion? Right on target or are some missing?  

IMO:
Civic Si (the newest one) looks pretty neat, dash looks odd but works great. I like it!
Focus hasn't had the best track record, but looks great, but it is not for me.
GTi looks awesome, WAY too expensive (plus I hate VWs).
MX-5 I had a mazda once & will never again. Worst car I have ever had & being 32 & having had 16-18 cars in the last 16 years, I think that says a lot.
Solstice looks cool, great to sit it. I would rather have a SKY, but that a matter of personal taste.  

man that list sucks..  The average car buyer is not a moron.  But then I look at this list and wonder....hmmmm  

the miata should be at the top of the list. and why is there a focus on that list? that's no sports car but an oil spill wating to happen.  

There are a lot missing...but then again you must ask yourself what you consider what falls into the sports car categorie...

Honda Civic Si....yea
Ford Focus...no
Volkswagen GTI...the 1.8T, vr6 and the R32 yes...but not the TDI models..
Mazda MX-5...a pretty fruity ride..but yea..a sports car...
Pontiac Solstice...a little weak to be a sports car...

and to add

Honda S2000
Nissan 350z
Mitsubishi Evo 9
Subaru WRX, STI
Audi TT
id choose one of those rather than the Focus, Miata, or the Solstice..

but then again...just an opinion  

well it sounds like they are talking about cars under 30K, and it is consumer reports so you have to take their list for what it is.

Civic Si - I haven't had the chance to drive the newest version yet, but from what I have heard they are definitely fun, quick and handle well. I have never been much of a honda fan, partly because I'm 6'3" 210 and have never fit in their cars.

Ford Focus - The "performance" versions of the Focus is a fun car to drive. A decent amount of power for the cars low weight, pretty nimble, fairly revy engine with decent gearing. I can't really speak for the quality or reliability of the car, but we are talking sporty, not how good of a commuter it is.

GTI - Beautiful motor, great interior, great suspension and the stiffest body of any car in the list. Unfortunately the longer they make GTIs, the bigger and heavier the keep getting. The car needs to shed a few hundred pounds and it could really use an LSD, but it is definitely a sporty car. I think it's a little too comfort oriented, but I can't wait to see the next anniversary addition we should be seeing in 08. Hopefully they will do something to make it look more like a GTI.

Miata - probably the sportiest car on the list, and it's a true sports car(light weight, low displacement, convertible) For a car between 25 and 30 you aren't going to get a sportier ride. There are few cars that deliver the amount of fun that you get in a miata. The beauty of the miata is the balance. It has enough power to make it fun to drive, but if you are really enjoying it and get caught, you aren't going fast enough to go to jail. With all that said the miata is one of the worst cars on the road, why? Because it's SO good and I don't fit in the freakin thing. Those rat *** at mazda don't seem to realize that people are built over 6 feet tall. Even with a race seat bolted to the floor, my head is still above the windshield.

Solstice - Haven't had a chance to drive one yet, but from what I have read, it falls a little short of the Miata. I will hold off judgement until I actually get some seat time in one.

A couple cars I may have added to the list:

Mini Cooper S - one of the best, if not the best handling front drive cars ever. Steering feel is incredible, the car will do whatever you want it to. The car has no overhangs, about the only vehicles with lower polar moments of inertias are mid engine. The S has a great power band, and the 6 speed is fun to row around. If you can't have fun in a Mini, you aren't a real car guy.

RX8 - The styling of the car is, well lets say "unique", but come on it revs over 8500 RPMs. Its a well balanced car that if anything, the chassis is so good it feels a little underpowered even with over 200hp. It doesn't feel like a three thousand pound vehicle, it changes directions quickly and is very steerable with your right foot. Again however I have to point out that Mazda does not build cars in adult sizes. For me to get in the car with a helmet on, I have to adjust my seat to Snoop Dog levels of "laid back".  

is the Ford Focus ST sold in the United States?
I only agree with the Honda Civic Si and the Volkswagen GTI on the list