My Extra-Spectacular Hierarchy Of Totally Awesome Drivers Cars

(Author’s Note: Apologies in advance for the wild variations in photos. I tried to use much of my old work from old prior reviews, no matter how “amateur.” Cars that needed pics I couldn’t provide for whatever reason were supplemented by manufacturer photos or by friend and colleague, Gavin Pouquette, co-founder of Exhibition of Speed. If you like what you see, check out his Instagram and YouTube channel. Thanks once again, Gavin!)

Before you ask, no, this is not useful to anyone in any way. No, I didn’t structure this hierarchy with any semblance of objective criticism or scientific testing. But, yes, I had just as much fun slapping this together as I did driving these cars over the years.

Disclaimers out of the way, I bid you all welcome to the first (and likely only) driver’s car ranking by me, DriveTribe’s favorite instigator of comment section fights, now coming to a PRNDL Community feed near you. So pour yourself a fine glass of choccy milk and prepare to mald as I spew words about the most memorable enthusiast cars I’ve sampled in recent memory, based mainly on fun-factor and outright driving experience.

I repeat! This is a loosely-organized ranking of cars I’ve driven within the last four years based on the most subjective aspects of driving, and every car was also tested in wildly varying environments. I wrote this grand compilation mainly for the fun of it, so take each entry with a grain or two of salt, as no two “testing” scenarios were identical.

Anyway, here it is. My 13 reasons why. Enjoy! Or don’t. That’s always allowed.

13) Toyota GR Supra 2.0

There must be a last-place finisher here, and sadly, the four-banger Supra is the one. An interesting choice, too, as it’s a car seasoned auto journos dished out heaps of praises for when new. But I have my reasons.

A friend tried to stand up for the Supra, claiming it to be a dream car for some. As politely as possible, I dismissed it and implored people to raise their bar. However, it’s not a bad sports car. In fact, it’s very much a hoot in its own right. It’s lovably agile and light, willing to dart side to side and dive into the next corner as its BMW-sourced, 255-horsepower B48 turbo-four delivers great momentum. It’s abilities are impressive, yet it feels as though it lacks something crucial.

The base Supra’s character is dull for something dressed so sharp. Its steering is better weighted than many modern sports cars, yet it doesn’t deliver the feedback I was hoping for something so capable. Its voice is muffled and bland, and the engine isn’t as sporty as its chassis, but that’s no surprise given that engine’s roots in more pedestrian BMW products.

By the numbers, the Supra 2.0 is a great performance car. However, I don’t find it as riveting as a driver’s car as the looks suggest. It’s simultaneously a gift from the heavens, yet not right by Car Jesus. However, that shouldn’t stop the less jaded from loving it for what it is and having a grand time in the twisties. Just because the entry-level Supra doesn’t seem to love itself doesn’t mean you can’t. For some, I suppose this can be a dream car. For me, however, it’s the 13th-place finisher.

12) Mercedes-AMG GLA35

Yes, I am ranking this dorky-looking crossover above a two-seat sports coupe. Cope and seethe, as I will fight anyone this take. This leather-clad baby booty with a wing is an absolute rocket ship and one hellacious hatchback. Americans have clamored for Mercedes to give us Yanks the AMG hatches from across the pond. Well, this is as close as we’re going to get. And that’s fine by me.

On the surface, you’d expect the GLA35 to be some lackluster branding exercise, a lazy attempt to capitalize on Affalterbach’s glory, but we’d be forgetting that Mercedes-AMG doesn’t skimp on their gas cars. It’s just as acquainted with being a leash-tugging ankle-biter as a suburban runabout.

The GLA35’s hopped-up 2.0-liter four, not even a hand-built AMG mill, still rivals super sport compacts with 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of fury. The steering is commendably sharp and well-weighted, with the all-wheel drive system and adjustable dampers making short work of even the tightest backroads. There’s a sprightliness in the chassis found in cars hundreds of pounds lighter, which blows me away, as it still has massive wheels, power leather seats, interior accent lighting, and a glass roof.

Dare I say it’s just as fun, if not a little more fun, than a Mk7 Golf R, but I’ll give the GLA35 extra credit for exceeding my expectations of what an entry-level luxury crossover can do. No, it’s not brimming with Porsche-level feel, nor is it as raucous in its personality or track capable as the other sport compacts on this list, which does weigh it down a bit. But whatever snobbishness is radiated by the Three-Pointed Star is outshined by the efforts of those behind the AMG badge.

11) Ford Focus RS

The Ford Focus RS is… oh, sorry, was a refreshing addition to the sport compact class in the States. It wasn’t the first Ford RS to grace the world, but it was the first to grace our shores, and the North American market met its debut with acclaim for all the right reasons. For once, those Supreme-clad hype beasts at the late-night meets might’ve actually been on to something.

During my brief but worthwhile rip through the nearby mountains, the lightly-modified Focus RS I piloted seriously threatened sports cars with far more power and tech. It oozed a rambunctious personality, eager to prove its worth and happy to shred through every mile of backroad. Such an attitude is afforded by its powerhouse of a 2.3-liter EcoBoost yet kept in check with accurate steering, track-ready suspension, and a trick all-wheel drive system that nearly eliminated any threat of understeer on brisk jaunts.

Quirks? Well, what I consider well-weighted steering may be hefty for some. The same goes for the rest of the car, which tips the scales at under 3,500 pounds, a couple hundred off present-day competitors such as the GR Corolla and FL5-generation Civic Type R.

Despite being a relative porker, the late Focus RS still makes for a deliciously rowdy driver’s car, like the big-boned kid in school that is somehow an all-star in sports. Even today, its performance holds up strong, and it’d be well worth a look at a used one if markups continue to bar the masses from today’s crop of sport compacts.

10) Subaru WRX STI Type RA

It says something about the Subaru WRX STI Type RA for the Ford fan with a mild distaste for WRXs to rank the Subie above the Focus. What can I say aside from what I’m about to spit in four paragraphs or less?

I’ve never been the biggest fan of boxer engines in cars. However, in retrospect, the EJ25 flat-four offered all I ever wanted from an engine: effectiveness layered under a unique, distinguishable character. 310 horsepower, five more than a base STI, is plenty to thrust the Type RA to not-so-law-abiding speeds. Rally-ready gear ratios always keep you riding that satisfying wave of boost, with enough corner-exit acceleration to be considered “explosive.” Although, it’s still loads of fun to lug it a bit and toy with that old-school turbo lag sensation.

The chassis is an absolute riot, too, with stable and predictable handling from the all-wheel drive system, Yokohama Advans, and the RA’s Bilstein shocks. Such components work in balance to sharpen turn-in and dismiss any threats of understeer on a two-lane while maintaining compliance. Oh, and that oh-so-wonderful steering is perfectly hydraulic in its operation, always jittering with road feel without being disconcerting or fatiguing.

Say what you want about tuning, reliability, piss-poor value, and chintzy shifter feel, as much of your bemoaning is likely valid. But as an out-of-the-box product? The Type RA and, by extension, the outgoing WRX STI are sensational. I used to criticize STIs for their lack of refinement, but it’s that nature that makes them as joyously memorable as newer, faster competition.

9) Ford Fiesta ST

Ah shit, here we go again. Once more, a writer chimes in to stroke the Ford Fiesta ST’s already-inflated ego beyond Andrew Tate levels. Except, unlike the dean of Hustlers University, this cutesy econo-hatch deserves every ounce of the praise it showers in, for it teaches us it’s truly not about the size of the dog in the fight but rather the size of the fight in the dog.

I’ve driven all sorts of FiSTs, from bone-stock to faux rally cars, and they’re all refreshingly sublime in the way they change direction and transmit feedback. The teeny EcoBoost wheezes a little up top but pulls as heroically as 197 horsepower possibly can in the midrange, and don’t forget what basic bolt-ons and a tune can unlock.

The chassis is good enough to make Lotus fanboys blush. The Fiesta could pass as a Lotus hatchback if they really felt like badge engineering over in Norfolk. You could even get the tail end to wag with just a bit of determination and trail braking – I may or may not have been chasing down a Veloster N at the time.

Praise the Blue Oval as the Ford Fiesta ST was and always will be one for the history books. Yes, it’s a bargain-bin runt with less than 200 horsepower, yet here I am, ranking it within a breath of Supras and STIs. I ask what else is there to say, but I think that last line says it all.

8) Toyota GR Supra 3.0

I love modern BMW motors for their silky operation and undeniable effectiveness. But man, the B48 2.0-liter in the base Supra just isn’t as inspiring as the rest of that car. But paired with the 3.0-liter B58 straight-six? Well, let’s just say the 2JZ still lives on, and it’s now built by the Germans.

Much of what I loved about the 2.0 Supra remains here. The 3.0’s near-identical chassis is flickable and relatively light, with a razor-edged demeanor that makes it a joy to toss around without being too lairy on twisty roads. That buttery-smooth sledgehammer of a motivational tool under the hood adds an extra dose of thrill that only 335 horsepower can afford – I drove an earlier model; later models got 382 ponies. Bigger, firmer brakes and far more capable adaptive dampers likely contribute a large sum.

So why a mid-pack finisher?

Still not thrilling enough. Sorry. I know the fanboys will crucify me for that one. The A90-generation Supra inherently has a soft side, with an isolated feel indicative of a grand touring car. Although, being a decent touring car is just another homage to the Mk IV Supra. But don’t get me wrong. The Supra is a real sports car in ways the Mk IV never was, with the capability and reflexes to match. It’s just not quite the soul-awakening Cayman killer I thought it’d be.

7) BMW F80 M3

“Want to see me rank a practical family car above a Supra? Want to see me do it again?”

Maybe a family car is a stretch, even for a sedan. The last BMW M3 was stiff, somewhat loud, and generally an obnoxious street car in many other little ways. Whatever niceties being a BMW granted is negated by method acting as a sports car. But that’s the best part.

While disappointingly numb and perhaps too hefty, the steering is supercar sharp. The front-end grip is surreal, while the ass end reminds you it still knows how to have a little tail-out action coming out of some hairpins. The F80 M3 is hair-raising yet confidence-inspiring, lairy yet controllable. As a result, it always beckons for hooliganism, even when tootling around town or, in my case, desperately hunting for a bathroom in downtown San Francisco during peak COVID because I drank too much water (I don’t recommend that, by the way). Stick shifts were available, but, unlike a particular friend of mine, I found the DCT endearing, blatting on upshifts and faultlessly executing downshifts with just the slightest of kicks as a message that there’s something mechanical down there. It gave the initial impression of a coarse afterthought of a gearbox yet was infallible in performance and experience.

Not everyone likes the F80 M3 for understandable reasons. It’s from an era when BMW was very much starting to lose its “Ultimate Driving Machine” cred. But I love it. When BMW produced what could be labeled the worst-driving 3-Series, M managed to make a genuine plaything out of it. I’ll even go as far as to say it’s a modern BMW that actually has some semblance of a soul.

6) Audi R8 V10 Plus

Of the cars on this list, the Audi R8 V10 Plus is perhaps the only one I’ve driven that’s a textbook supercar and a genuine exotic. Sharp angles? Mid-engined? Neck-snapping power from a screamer of an engine? Check, check, and you bet your ass the last one is a check.

So yep. You bet your sweet bippy sixth place is all I’ll give it. The R8 was one of the few on this list I drove on track too, and you know what? That’s probably why sixth is right where it stays. But first, it’s mandatory Sprinkle-Praise-On-The-Dream-Car-From-Iron-Man time.

I won’t lie. I, too, was once a snot-nosed whelp and still am in many ways, and the Audi R8 was every bit the childhood dream that Top Gear and Motor Trend led me to believe. In second-gen V10 Plus guise, it’s fast as all hell (well, duh) with beautifully-balanced mid-engined dynamics, heralded by the first apex with near-perfect steering and that boastful 5.2-liter V10. It was wonderfully smooth, appreciably comfortable, and shockingly easy to drive. Or perhaps too easy?

I douse the R8 with love for how epic it drives and how capable it is on track. But it could’ve been more. Surely, that’s what the GT, RWS, or Lamborghini Huracan are for, but I’m yet to find out. Even so, other cars on this list smashed expectations, while the R8 only matched them. Oh, and understeer wasn’t hard to find on track, either. I’m sure it’s divine on a backroad, but race pace with an instructor pushing me to go flat-out was where the magic began to wane ever so slightly. And that’s a bit of a downer, as this car displayed superfluous amounts of enthusiasm. Unfortunately for Audi’s greatest road car effort, the next few contenders had considerably more.

5) Chevrolet C7 Corvette ZR1

The last-generation Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: the pants-shittingly spectacular extravaganza you all need to experience while the exotic track rental fleets still stock them. Pair Hellcat speed with Corvette dynamics and multiply their charisma factors by three-fold.

Now listen. I’m no drag racer, but 755 horsepower is 755 horsepower. With such power from a leviathan 6.2-liter V8 and a supercharger so big they had to cut a hole in the hood, the powerband is always in play. Always. So whether you’re lugging it or banging off the limiter, that LT5 engine is an instant overdose of adrenaline amplified by the IMSA race car noise bellowing out the exhaust.

Most surprisingly, it’s actually somewhat controllable! The instructor who guided me on my voyage engaged Track mode and placed traction control off and stability control partially disabled. Yet, the ZR1 remained a sweetheart of a dance partner, albeit one hopped up on too many Four Lokos. On the track, the steering reacts with zero understanding of understeer, while the ZTK Package’s aero and Gorilla Glue Cup 2 tires keep G-forces at F-35 levels. The ZR1 was nearly faultless aside from the ho-hum tuning of its eight-speed auto, but I’ll give it a pass as I know the manual must be utterly batshit.

Despite all it gets right, I was still terrified of the ZR1. But I knew what it could do if I just pushed forward while still respecting its limits, and that’s why I’m head over heels for it. It’s a driver’s car that forces you to find your own confidence, rewarding you with more speed, lap after lap, without breaking a sweat. Sure, it can be way too much of a hard-ass, and it’s not for everyone. But I respect the rare few who dive deep into what this car can do in the right environment with the proper mindset, for the ZR1 will reward those who dare.

4) Porsche 718 Cayman GTS

Not ten minutes behind the wheel on track at the rental track, I was shown Stuttgart’s light. Flat-four or not, the Porsche Cayman GTS was a breathtaking reminder that front-engined cars aren’t shit anymore.

I’m kidding. Maybe.

Thanks to its svelte build, diminutive wheelbase, and all the standard go-fast goodies that adorn the GTS model, this spec of Cayman was every bit as razor-sharp as the finest supercars for a fraction of the cost. Crazy to think that I’m considering a near-six-figure Porsche to be a bargain, but it genuinely punches far above its weight in terms of sheer handling ability. Brakes were as wonderful as you’d expect, as was the telepathic steering, which was picture-perfect in its speed, accuracy, and weight.

Even the engine was pleasantly smooth, responsive, and eager to rev while delivering gobs of power, bolstered by Porsche’s pretty-much-perfect PDK. Perhaps the only gripe is that, while this may be the best flat-four to come stock from any manufacturer, it’s not a very fizzy or soulful mill. People who admire cars for their motors will be more entertained by a Shelby GT350, a BMW M car, or, to keep it under Stuttgart’s crest, a 718 GTS 4.0.

Still, what a car. I merely drove it because I had a birthday discount and figured I’d use it as the “warm-up” before commandeering that cruise missile of a Corvette ZR1 mentioned earlier. But after driving both, all I wanted was to hop back in the Cayman for more. The precision. The agility. The sense of near-weightlessness as you keep pace with cars that are far more expensive. The Cayman is a drug, and I’m itching for another dose.

3) Toyota GR 86

Hear me out. The Toyota GR 86 offers the fleetfooted thrills of a lower-spec Porsche Cayman for a fraction of the cost and, dare I say, loads more charm. If you can’t find that compelling in any which way, you are a shit stain on the underwear of society, and I wish to have no further contact with you.

The GR 86 is a revelation of what a blue-collar sports car can truly be, with a sub-2,900-pound weight, perfect chassis balance, and a willing and rev-happy motor that still nudges you into your seat. For those who felt criminally offended by the last FR-S/BRZ’s engine, please consider the new car’s 228-horsepower FA24 – zero-to-60 in 5.4 seconds and a 14-second quarter-mile at 101 miles per hour ain’t bad at all. The whole car does what you want when you want, and it does so with vigor and eagerness in all aspects of its driving experience that’s simply not as well-developed in many modern performance cars regardless of price. They sure make for some pretty heroic track car builds, too. Kudos to the limitless aftermarket.

Perhaps the only wrongdoings are engine and exhaust noises that still sound grainy and a steering rack that took one step up in speed but one step back in feel. The old FR-S felt more natural and well-weighted, but the 86’s steering is still far more pleasant and precise for ten-tenths driving than its bitter rival, the ND Mazda MX-5 Miata.

To anyone scoffing at me, have you ever driven one in anger on a set of twisties? No? Well, there’s your homework. Find one and flog it within an inch of its life, then come back. Such a car like the GR 86 is almost nonexistent nowadays. The fact that it’s even here in an age of crossovers and electrify-everything is a blessing that shines bright as day, beckoning for a chipper soul to make a time attack run out of their morning tofu delivery.

2) Mercedes-AMG GT S

Huh. Well, what do you know? A prior Motor Trend’s Best Drivers Car winner turned out to be one hell of a driver’s car. Who would’ve guessed? In a lapse of judgment, I imagined the GT S as a sluggish, weighty GT car, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.

What I thought was a lazy V8 powerplant was snappy and eager to charge to its 7,000-rpm redline. To hell with the naturally-aspirated purists. That 4.0-liter twin-turbo M178 V8 is maniacal! On top of that, what I imagined was a big touring car proved shockingly nimble and a fun-loving tinker toy on track. The steering was as perfect as a front-engined car could be, with laser precision and even a dose of road feel.

To add some perspective, I drove the GT S on the same day at the same exotic rental track where I tracked the R8 V10 Plus. Like my epiphany with the 718 GTS from a different track day, it was this less powerful “warm-up” car that rocked my worldview and was the car I wanted to rip another dozen laps in at the end of the day. And while the R8 with its engine from the heavens was delightful, it wasn’t this car. It wasn’t the AMG GT S.

The AMG GT S felt every bit of its 503 horsepower. Its cornering defied its roughly 3,600-pound weight. And its sports car nature rewrote what I thought was possible for present-day Mercedes. The entire GT lineup was a flash point for the brand, partially responsible for the path they walk today, seamlessly blending its old-school brutish nature with precise driving dynamics. And I can only hope they build more driver’s cars like this for generations.

1) Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

Many cars on this list defied expectations and transcended any objective flaws to be the most fun person at the party. The Shelby GT350 downs a bottle of Fireball and breaks it over their friend’s head before skateboarding off the balcony into the pool as “Holiday” by Green Day gets progressively louder in the background. It’s a 24/7 giggle factory, sporting a world-class chassis and motivated by an all-star engine, and my god, what an engine.

That 5.2-liter Voodoo V8 is intoxicating, even if it was a problem child in some cases. 526 all-natural horsepower and 8,250 rpm in a pony car? Seriously? Yes, please, I’ll have some more, Mr. Farley. Oh, how it entices with its refreshingly progressive powerband, screaming toward its supercar-like redline with all the right fizz. It amps up its charms via a crisp manual shifter that’d earn the respect of any Porsche or Honda engineer. The GT350 wails, buzzes, and resonates through the chassis and your soul. And it’s not like it’s merely some 15% APR takeover toy, as it has eye-opening levels of handling to prove it.

Stiff-ish ride, questionable oil consumption, and occasional tramlining aside, the GT350 is easily one of the best driver’s cars, not just for a pony car, but period. And it’s not just fun pulling on the highway or wafting along a sweeping country road. It’s fun everywhere at all times. Fast or slow, road or track, this car is a slayer; all it wants to do is rip and tear until it is done. Some may find that to be incessantly obnoxious. Nevertheless, I declare it an experience to behold.

Where To Next?

Quite a diversified list, isn’t it? But it’s far from a perfect showing. I’m still growing in this field, and I’ve yet to experience certain cars I know would further develop my tastes as a driver. Hell, I haven’t even driven my first 911 yet! But that’s what growth is about, and I hope to eventually drive more vehicles of even greater varieties on a myriad of roads and tracks as I practice sharing my thoughts and experiences with you.

For now, however, this is the best of the best of what I’ve sampled in my relatively short time on this Earth, in order of awesomeness. Did any surprise you? Were there any you agreed with or any you outright damn me for? Let me know in the comments below!