The Unlimited Driver vs. Motor Trend
You’ve waited all year to hear about it. Last week, we told you it was coming. It’s time to unveil The Unlimited Driver’s Best Driver’s Car contenders and winner for 2017. It may not be as big or exciting, or really anything close to when Motor Trend puts on their competition, but hey… we can dream can’t we?
In sticking with Motor Trend’s, uh… trend, we will use cars that you can buy in 2017 and 2018, and we’ll just save the all-time best for another time. Along the same lines, we will also narrow the field down to twelve vehicles for consistency. Let’s get to it!
12th Place – Cadillac ATS-V
Surprise, surprise! A lot of people don’t talk about this car because, one, it’s a Cadillac, and two, the bigger brother of the family, the CTS-V, usually hogs all the attention that Cadillac does get. You’d be foolish to overlook the ATS-V. Equipped with a turbocharged V-6 that pumps out more than 450 horsepower, you can also get the ATS-V in both sedan and coupe versions. Even more than that, it may just be the best, most purposeful looking car in this group.
11th Place – Camaro ZL1 1LE
Making its second appearance in a best driver’s car list in the past month, the Camaro remains a testament to how far technology has come and how fast improvements have been made to the car. Just a few years ago, you could group the Camaro in with the Mustangs, Chargers, and Challengers of the world as “just another American muscle car” that handles almost as good as a brick on wheels. Not so with the ZL1 1LE. We think it has a bit too much horsepower to really be the best driver’s car, but it’s still good enough everywhere else to give it another appearance.
10th Place – Nissan 370Z
Maybe the grandfather of the group, the current 370Z has been around since 2009 without too many changes. That has its advantages and its disadvantages. The technology in the car is proven, the recipe that Nissan has used for years remains essentially unchanged, and the car rewards the driver with a feeling of complete control and satisfaction behind the wheel. Unfortunately, because of the car’s age, others are starting to gain ground on the Z car. If you like good fun, simplicity, and a car that is a dream to drive, this is the car for you. Oh yeah… it’s also really affordable!
9th Place – Alfa Romeo 4C
Alfa Romeo makes the list again. But wait… this isn’t the Guilia. We know. Not much needs to be said about the 4C after you take one glance at its beautiful design. It’s most certainly a better purpose-built driver’s car than the Guilia. That being said, there is no manual transmission option, the ride is terrifyingly harsh, and the interior offers fewer features than the very first telephone. One thing about the 4C is that you do still get an Alfa Romeo. That’s pretty special.
8th Place – Shelby GT350
After the shock of the newly redesigned, highly anticipated 2015 mustang wore off, the owners of the redesigned pony car started noticing that the exhaust note of the GT was just a tad too quiet. Ford’s answer? The even more highly anticipated Shelby GT350, and it literally silenced all the critics. The car is loud, brash, and styled with more aggressive features to make it look like a monster that it truly is. Despite the Camaro’s recent improvements, the Shelby has outdone its number one competitor in several head to head shootouts. That’s not to say the Shelby is perfect, but it’s definitely a pure driving machine that any enthusiast would love to have on a warm, sunny weekend.
7th Place – Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
Essentially a re-purposed MX-5, the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is a little bigger overall and has a bit more power than the Mazda. Better looking than its Mazda counterpart according to most, this little pocket rocket is a blast to drive. And in typical Abarth fashion, it sounds really good! At the end of the day, there’s enough of a difference between the Fiat and MX-5 to knock the 124 Spider down a few notches, but you don’t really lose too much in terms of sheer joy when you hit the road.
6th Place – Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrofoglio
Appearing in this list as well as the last, there really doesn’t need to be much more said that what’s already been stated. Not only is this four-door sedan fast, but it also sounds good. Being an Alfa Romeo also gives the car some automatic street cred in terms of design and also in pedigree. It is just perfect… even though it’s really not.
5th Place – Porsche 718 Cayman S
The third car to be a repeat offender, Porsche continues to impress. It’s neither the least nor the most powerful car here . That gives this car balance. Being a German Car, there is meticulous attention to detail, and everything is as precise as a painting on the head of a pin. Being perfect in just about every way does have its drawbacks. One thing that can be said of most Porsches is that they are almost too good. Generally speaking precisely engineered cars to a fault – like the Nissan GT-R – are usually a little less “happy” to drive and lack character. The Cayman performs a rather good balancing act, remaining a true Porsche through and through, but also being a genuinely good car to drive.
4th Place – Porsche 718 Boxster S
If the Cayman is a great testament to how well a car can be engineered, the Boxster takes that a step farther. The Cayman’s little brother is really the better driver’s car of the two. We’ll just also include it as a better driver’s car than the whole Porsche lineup while we’re at it. Forget about the 911 Turbo S and the GT3 RS, the Boxster S is just about one of the best weekend cars you can pick up today. And if you think a four cylinder engine is depressing for a performance car, perhaps you should take a closer look at this two seat convertible… that is if you can ever pry the driver out of the driver’s seat.
3rd Place – Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86
There’s an ongoing debate as to whether or not the Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86 is lacking the power it needs. You will get a different answer with every person you ask. Despite the differing opinions, the fact is that this car… uh, these cars, are purpose built for one thing: a driving experience. Speed and power are not the point when you hop into the driver’s seat. Lightweight and nimble, the BRZ/86 is a hoot on the back roads. The platform is correctly configured, the recipe is spot on, and the car is affordable. All that adds up to a smile on your face as you drive off to glide down your favorite mountain road.
2nd Place – MX-5 Miata
Mazda doesn’t continue to manufacture the MX-5 Miata for no reason. It’s the best-selling sports car of all time. It’s nimble, it’s quick, and it’s affordable, not to mention that it’s reliable. Retaining enough of its old-school charm and adding quite a few modern touches, the MX-5 continues to be one of the best driver’s cars of all time. Built on the premise of 100% pure driving joy, there is no possible way to get in this car, floor it, and still be bummed out by what just happened to you at work. Go ahead and give one a drive!
1st Place – BMW M2
The M2 wins our driver’s car of the year because it’s a return to what made the BMW M car great. In recent years, many have pined about the M division straying from its roots of truly great cars motivated and inspired by tradition and racing heritage. The M2 does a fantastic job of injecting new technology with the feel of emotion and a pure driving experience. It’s a welcome return to what many cars used to be. More importantly, it’s a reminder that in a world full of technologies that take over the control of a car from the driver, not all is lost. There are still those who very much care about the experience of actually driving a good car.
Honorable Mentions:
- Lotus Evora
- Chevrolet SS
- Corvette Grand Sport
- Audi RS3
- Jaguar F-Type
And that’s our list of the best driver’s cars that we would pick, along with a few bonuses. We will still leave everything up to the experts at Motor Trend. They do their job well, and they know their cars. We just have to give you another take, because that’s what we do at The Unlimited Driver.
–SWF
