{"id":74658,"date":"2026-07-01T19:18:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T23:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/?p=74658"},"modified":"2026-07-01T19:19:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T23:19:37","slug":"legendary-cars-that-define-the-ultimate-driving-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/legendary-cars-that-define-the-ultimate-driving-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Legendary Cars That Define the Ultimate Driving Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

What Drives the Enduring Allure of Iconic Cars?<\/p>\n

The persistent fascination with certain automobiles\u2014ranging from the utilitarian Ford Model T to the uncompromising Ferrari F40\u2014cannot be reduced to mere nostalgia or performance metrics. Instead, the evidence suggests that these vehicles act as cultural touchstones, encoding the aspirations, anxieties, and technological ambitions of their respective eras. While enthusiasts may cite horsepower, handling, or rarity, a more nuanced reading reveals that the cars on any \u201cmust-drive\u201d list serve as proxies for broader questions: What does it mean to democratize mobility? How does engineering innovation intersect with social identity? And why do some machines, regardless of objective superiority, command a mythic status that others never attain?<\/p>\n

The Ford Model T, for instance, is not celebrated for its driving dynamics\u2014by contemporary standards, it is a \u201cnightmare.\u201d Yet its historical significance as the vehicle that brought motoring to the masses is uncontested. The methodological limitation here is clear: to judge the Model T solely by the standards of modern performance is to miss its structural impact on society. Similarly, the Ferrari F40\u2019s continued preeminence among supercars is less about its raw speed\u2014now easily surpassed by newer models\u2014and more about its immersive, visceral experience, and its status as the last car overseen by Enzo Ferrari himself. The F40\u2019s reputation, then, is as much a product of narrative and aura as of engineering.<\/p>\n

How Do Mainstream Interpretations of Automotive Greatness Fall Short?<\/p>\n

Mainstream rankings of legendary cars often privilege performance figures, design, or brand cachet. However, such approaches risk flattening the complex interplay between a car\u2019s technical attributes and its cultural resonance. For example, the BMW M3 (E46) is frequently lauded as a \u201cbargain\u201d for its balance and naturally aspirated engine, but this framing overlooks the way it encapsulates a transitional moment in automotive engineering\u2014just before the widespread adoption of turbocharging and electronic driver aids. The evidence suggests that cars like the M3 (E46) or the Lotus Elise are not merely \u201cfun to drive\u201d; they represent the last gasp of an analog era, which many enthusiasts now view with a sense of loss.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the elevation of certain models\u2014such as the Porsche 911 (992) or the Mini\u2014often obscures the demographic and geographic biases inherent in such lists. The focus on European and Japanese marques, for instance, may reflect the tastes of a particular segment of the enthusiast community rather than a universal standard. The absence or marginalization of vehicles from emerging markets or non-traditional manufacturers points to a structural limitation: the canon of \u201cmust-drive\u201d cars is as much a product of editorial curation as of objective merit.<\/p>\n

Who Benefits\u2014and Who Is Excluded\u2014by the Cult of the Iconic Car?<\/p>\n

The lionization of select vehicles confers status not only on the cars themselves but also on those who own, drive, or even aspire to experience them. This dynamic creates a feedback loop: rarity and reputation drive up values, which in turn restrict access and reinforce exclusivity. The practical consequence is that many of the cars most celebrated as \u201cessential experiences\u201d\u2014the McLaren F1, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, the original Aston Martin DB4 GT\u2014are effectively out of reach for all but a tiny elite. Even ostensibly democratic icons, such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk1) or the Mazda MX-5, have seen their cultural capital leveraged in ways that sometimes distort their original ethos of accessibility and fun.<\/p>\n

Conversely, the focus on a narrow set of \u201clegendary\u201d vehicles can marginalize alternative forms of automotive enthusiasm, such as those centered on sustainability, utility, or local innovation. The inclusion of the Jaguar I-Pace\u2014a contemporary electric vehicle\u2014signals a tentative shift, but its presence is still framed in terms of heritage and brand reinvention rather than as a harbinger of a fundamentally new paradigm.<\/p>\n

What Are the Blind Spots and Second-Order Consequences of Automotive Canonization?<\/p>\n

The process of canonizing certain cars as \u201cmust-drive\u201d inevitably entails omissions and distortions. The evidence indicates that such lists often underplay the importance of context: a car like the Citro\u00ebn 2CV, for example, is celebrated for its charm and simplicity, but its significance as a tool of rural modernization in postwar France is rarely foregrounded. Similarly, the Willys MB is acknowledged as the progenitor of the SUV, but the militaristic and colonial associations of its design are typically glossed over in favor of narratives about ruggedness and indestructibility.<\/p>\n

There is also a tendency to romanticize the \u201cpurity\u201d of analog driving experiences, sometimes at the expense of recognizing the real-world limitations\u2014safety, emissions, accessibility\u2014of older vehicles. This nostalgia, while understandable, can obscure the ways in which automotive progress has been driven as much by regulation and social change as by engineering bravado.<\/p>\n

What Should an Informed Reader Take Away?<\/p>\n

For the analytically inclined, the lesson is not to dismiss the emotional or aesthetic pull of iconic cars, but to interrogate the mechanisms by which certain vehicles attain\u2014and retain\u2014their legendary status. The evidence suggests that the \u201cmust-drive\u201d list is less a neutral inventory of greatness than a living document of collective desire, anxiety, and memory. To engage with these cars critically is to recognize both their technical achievements and their symbolic freight.<\/p>\n

The informed reader should approach such rankings with a dual awareness: first, of the pleasures and insights that come from experiencing these machines on their own terms; second, of the structural exclusions and mythologies that shape which cars are celebrated and which are forgotten. The canon of legendary cars is not fixed. It is a site of ongoing negotiation\u2014between past and future, exclusivity and accessibility, myth and reality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Every<\/a><\/p>\n

Andrew Frankel picks 50 legendary cars, from the humble to the exotic, he thinks you simply must drive at least once<\/p>\n

\n

Every petrolhead has their \u2018list\u2019 of cars they want to drive.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n

Whether it comprises Porsches <\/strong>or Ferraris<\/strong>, Jaguars <\/strong>or Fords<\/strong>, everyone has their reasons.<\/p>\n

Here, Andrew Frankel counts down his<\/em> list of cars he believes everyone should drive at least once:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

50: BMW M3 (E46)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Not quite the best M car perhaps, but almost certainly the best M car bargain <\/strong>out there.<\/p>\n

The last such car to be powered by a normally aspirated straight-six motor, many might argue the sound of the 3.2-litre <\/strong>engine was grounds enough to make it onto this list, but it also came with one of the best balanced chassis in the business.<\/p>\n

\n

49: Ford Model T<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Here not because it\u2019s fast or brilliant to drive (in fact, it\u2019s a nightmare<\/strong>), but because it\u2019s almost certainly the most important car ever produced, bringing motoring to the masses like none before it, changing the way the world thought about cars.<\/p>\n

\n

48: Bentley Turbo R<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Technically not exactly brilliant<\/strong>, but what does that matter in a car as charming and characterful <\/strong>as this? Once described as \u2018a tidal wave on wheels\u2019, the Turbo R gave self-respect back to Bentley and set it on course for its high-flying position today.<\/p>\n

\n

47: Renault Clio Williams<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Not the fastest of hot hatches, even in its day, but even now still one of the most entertaining ways of getting from one place to the next within the format. Light<\/strong>, poised <\/strong>and superbly communicative<\/strong>, it\u2019s probably the best hot hatch from probably the world\u2019s greatest creator of hot hatches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

46: Audi Quattro<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

To those who weren\u2019t around at the time, it\u2019s hard to explain the impact of this car \u2013 not least because it came from Audi<\/strong>, a company with no track record of producing seminal driving machines. But it was: permanent four-wheel drive and a 200bhp <\/strong>five-pot motor provided one of the most memorable driving experiences of the 1980s.<\/p>\n

\n

45: Alfa Romeo GTA<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Only 500 <\/strong>were built as pure homologation specials, with jewel-like twin-plug, twin-cam 1.6-litre <\/strong>engines, alloy bodies and a dry mass of less than 750kg<\/strong>. Utterly dominant in racing, but simply exquisite in \u2018Stradale<\/strong>\u2019 road trim, this is the best Alfa Romeo of the post-war generation.<\/p>\n

\n

44: Ford Focus RS (Mk 1)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

The original Focus RS <\/strong>was an astonishingly well-judged synthesis of necessary practicality, strong power and simply epic handling. As rapid across country as any number of purpose-built supercars <\/strong>and, if you can find a good one, perhaps the best-value fast Ford you can buy today.<\/p>\n

\n

43: Jaguar MkII<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

People associate these with Inspector Morse <\/strong>bumbling around Oxford<\/strong>, but they deserve so much more. The 3.8-litre <\/strong>version offered exceptional power and poise for 60 years ago<\/strong>, one reason they were the weapon au choix of everyone from saloon car racers to getaway drivers.<\/p>\n

\n

42: Willys MB<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Better known as the Jeep<\/strong>, it famously won the war alongside the Dakota and the landing craft, at least from Eisenhower\u2019s perhaps somewhat partial perspective. Even so, if you ever wondered how your SUV got that way, it all started here with a name whose origins are argued about to this day. Slow<\/strong>, uncomfortable<\/strong>, indestructible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

41: Lexus LS400<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

We couldn\u2019t believe it. A Toyota <\/strong>that rode (much) better than a Rolls-Royce<\/strong>, with an engine so quiet at idle you needed to look at the rev counter to know it was turning. The most remarkable luxury car of its era and still, in a way, the standout Lexus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

40: Honda Integra Type R<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

It is incredible to see the cult following <\/strong>this little coup\u00e9 has earned itself. But this was Honda at the height of its engineering powers and the Integra <\/strong>was the greatest expression of its talent for producing brilliant driver\u2019s cars. Some even say it\u2019s the best front-drive machine <\/strong>of them all<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

39: Austin 7<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Our answer to the Ford Model T<\/strong>, the car that more than any put Britain on the road. Simple but beautifully realised, slow but still fun to drive, look at one today and see how hard it is not to smile. Drive one and your grin will stretch from ear to ear.<\/p>\n

\n

38: Jaguar I-Pace<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Not just included here for what it is, which is a damn fine electric car but for what it represents: Jaguar <\/strong>doing things its way. For too long, Jaguar has followed the lead of (mainly German<\/strong>) others. Yet it was always at its best setting the trend, not following it, and you only have to look at the XK120<\/strong>, E-Type <\/strong>and original XJ6 <\/strong>to know it. The I-Pace is a return to that mindset. Long may it last.<\/p>\n

\n

37: Land Rover Series 1<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

No, it\u2019s not the first SUV but it is undoubtedly the most influential<\/strong>. How funny for a car designed with straight edges and built from scrap aluminium <\/strong>left over from the war because it was intended as a stopgap and that was the cheapest way of making them.<\/p>\n

\n

36: Porsche Cayman GT4<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Either generation will do, but in this case we mean the first<\/strong>. Much of the power deficit to the vaunted GT3 <\/strong>was offset by better weight distribution and lower overall mass. An outstanding driver\u2019s car for a fraction of the price of the 911 equivalent.<\/p>\n

\n

35: Mitsubishi Evo VI Tommi M\u00e4kinen<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a shame cars like this are no longer fashionable <\/strong>\u2013 few made their driver feel more of a hero. Immense power just set the scene: it was the balance and agility that made you feel like a WRC winner. Any Evo is good<\/strong>, but this was the best.<\/p>\n

\n

34: Porsche 968 Clubsport<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

In pure handling terms<\/strong>, probably still the best balanced <\/strong>Porsche. The lightweight Clubbie came from a time when Porsche actually charged less and not more for removing equipment, making this 968 not just a superlative driving machine but a surprisingly affordable <\/strong>one too.<\/p>\n

\n

33: Mercedes-BenzS-Class(W140)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

The S-Class <\/strong>of S-Classes, the most massively constructed, locked-in vault Benz of them all, dating from a time when Mercedes wilfully overengineered its cars, just because it could. The S500 <\/strong>with its punchy V8 <\/strong>was the best, and was an implausibly effective driving machine too.<\/p>\n

\n

32: Mazda MX-5<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Thirty years<\/strong>. That\u2019s how long it\u2019s been since Mazda launched its gorgeous little roadster on the road and that\u2019s how long we\u2019ve spent waiting for someone, anyone, to manage to better it. Some have tried, all have failed. Drive it and you\u2019ll see why.<\/p>\n

\n

31: Lotus Esprit Sport 300<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

The Elise <\/strong>is a far more important car, but this is the best Lotus road car I\u2019ve driven, with real power from its old 2.2-litre <\/strong>engine making the most of the best chassis then in the business. Perhaps the most lucid and vice-less mid-engined supercar that has been created.<\/p>\n

\n

30: Dodge Charger 440R\/T<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a good reason they chose this for The Dukes of Hazzard <\/em><\/strong>TV show in the 1980s, for it symbolises all that was good about America\u2019s greatest muscle car era. The 1968 spec cars look best, and the enormous 440-cubic-inch motor <\/strong>is a legend in its own right.<\/p>\n

\n

29: Bentley 4 1\/2 Litre<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

The epitome of the vintage Bentley<\/strong>, all bonnet straps, Union flags and a cockpit that looks like that of a WW1 biplane. Difficult to drive owing to reversed pedals and a non-syncro \u2019box, but get it right and there are still few more pleasurable driving experiences out there today.<\/p>\n

\n

28: Aston Martin DBS Superleggera<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

All that a modern Aston Martin <\/strong>should be: gorgeous, stupendously fast , superb to drive and with just a hint of cad about it . A modern-day DB5<\/strong>, and praise comes little higher than that.<\/p>\n

\n

27: Lotus Elise<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

The car that saved the company<\/strong>. By going back to its roots and building something advanced but simple, fast but affordable, Lotus found its sweet spot <\/strong>and has been cashing in on it ever since. A landmark in the history of one of the most important and enigmatic brands.<\/p>\n

\n

26: McLaren 720S<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Could have had any number of McLarens <\/strong>here, but the 720S <\/strong>is what it does best: a quiet, comfortable and spacious long-distance cruiser \u2013 then an axe-wielding maniac at the press of a pedal. Wonderful en route to the mountains, insane when you arrive<\/strong>. The most broadly defined supercar.<\/p>\n

\n

25: Mercedes-Benz 300SL<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just about the doors, though those gullwings <\/strong>are quite some calling card. What it is, in fact, is the first car with a credible claim to the title \u2018supercar<\/strong>\u2019 and one whose combination of performance and civility in 1954 made everything else on the road seem instantly obsolete.<\/p>\n

\n

24: Citro\u00ebn 2CV \u2018AZ\u2019<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

An AZ <\/strong>is an early car from the 1950s, with a ripple bonnet and a 425cc <\/strong>engine, close to the inspired original and pre-war vision for the car. One of the slowest cars on the road owing to just 12bhp<\/strong>, but one of the most charming <\/strong>too. Being unhappy and on board at the same time is not possible.<\/p>\n

\n

23: Ariel Atom<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Any will do, though the later <\/strong>the better. The slowest will stir your soul, the quicker will fry your brain. The most intense driving experience a five-figure sum will buy. Our choice: the 3.5R <\/strong>with its sorted handling and maniac supercharged engine.<\/p>\n

\n

22: AC Cobra<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Originals have strange steering and primitive chassis<\/strong>, even for their age, and far too much power for their own good. Occasionally frustrating and frequently frightening, but these Anglo-American icons are also always heart-stoppingly exciting.<\/p>\n

\n

21: Porsche 911 (992)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Someone considerably richer <\/strong>than me once said your motoring education was incomplete until you\u2019d driven a 911 hard<\/strong>. But he was right, and it\u2019s the same today. For 55 years others have tried to better it and for 55 years they have failed. Now as then it’s the default choice for anyone looking to drive a true sports car every day.<\/p>\n

\n

20: Original Range Rover<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Not the first luxury SUV (Jeep Grand Wagoneer<\/strong>, take a bow) but the gen redefining best. Look at all those new SUVs from Bentley<\/strong>, Lamborghini<\/strong>, Rolls-Royce<\/strong>, Maserati <\/strong>and, shortly, both Aston Martin <\/strong>and Ferrari<\/strong>. Their journeys all started here.<\/p>\n

\n

19: Ford Sierra Cosworth<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

A rear-drive Sapphire Cosworth <\/strong>is actually a fraction nicer to drive but loses the cartoonish presence of the big winged Sierra hatch<\/strong>. A racing car for the road in the truest sense, and as good to drive as such billing suggests.<\/p>\n

\n

18: Aston Martin DB4 GT<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

A posher homologation special than the Sierra <\/strong>and the last Aston road car built specifically with racing in mind. With the James Bond <\/strong>looks came monster power, little weight and cornering to remind you what your side windows are for.<\/p>\n

\n

17: Lancia Stratos<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

You\u2019d probably hate the Stratos <\/strong>the first time you try it. Other cars just don\u2019t drive like this. Sat on a vanishingly small wheelbase and designed to change direction in an instant<\/strong>, it is an acquired taste. But once you have it, it never leaves you.<\/p>\n

\n

16: BMW M3 (E30)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

If a Martian fell to Earth and asked the meaning of the phrase \u2018it ain\u2019t what you do, it\u2019s the way that you do it<\/strong>\u2019, you could do no better than strap him, her or it into an original M3 <\/strong>to explain. Superb motor, perfect balance, sublime experience.<\/p>\n

\n

15: Fiat 500<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Everyone raves about the Mini <\/strong>and rightly so. But Dante Giacosa\u2019s Nuova Cinquecento also sat four, was far more manoeuvrable around town and was already on sale when the Mini was launched. More fun than you could possibly imagine from just 18bhp<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

14: Lexus LFA<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

It was late in appearing and fiendishly expensive<\/strong>, but my goodness it was fun while it lasted. An incredible chassis powered by a V10 <\/strong>engine that still has a good claim to being the best used in a road car. Such a shame, then, that it never spawned the successor it so deserved.<\/p>\n

\n

13: Caterham Seven<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

As viscerally thrilling as an Ariel Atom<\/strong>? Perhaps not quite, but close, and it comes with a hood and even a heater if you want, so it can be used all year round. And no car is any fun parked in the garage.<\/p>\n

\n

12: Rolls-Royce Phantom<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Having seen the complete Horlicks it made of Rover<\/strong>, many of us worried what BMW might do with Rolls-Royce<\/strong>. The answer was to create the finest luxury carriage of its era and a car as worthy of the name as any other.<\/p>\n

\n

11: Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk1)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Not the first hot hatch, but the car that perfected the art <\/strong>and set the template for others to follow. Simple, strong, fast and fun, it seems staggering that no one had thought of it before. An absolute icon <\/strong>of pragmatic car design.<\/p>\n

\n

10: Lamborghini Miura<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

I know, Miuras <\/strong>are meant to be rubbish to drive. But there\u2019s not a petrolhead who\u2019s seen the film who has not dreamed of slipping down into that unimprovable shape and making like the man in the opening credits of The Italian Job<\/strong><\/em>. Just without the bulldozer bit.<\/p>\n

\n

9: Alpine A110<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

For once a sequel that improves on the original <\/strong>and, in the meantime, changes the way a complacent world thinks about sports car design. One of very few true icons of our age and one of the finest driver\u2019s cars yet conceived<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

8: Mini (original)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Became both a fashion accessory <\/strong>and a Monte Carlo rally winner<\/strong>, a film star and a runabout for millions. Simple, spacious, affordable and fun, it was also the first to perfect front-wheel drive<\/strong>. Few cars of any size have been more important<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

7: Peugeot 205 GTI<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

Enough people have done enough tests over the years for it surely now to be unarguable that the 205 GTI <\/strong>is the defining hot hatch not just of its era but of any era. A dizzying blend of performance, practicality and outrageous handling, wrapped up in landmark styling for an affordable price. And there\u2019s not much better than that<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

6: Ferrari LaFerrari<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

I\u2019d rather drive a P1 <\/strong>around a track <\/strong>and I\u2019d rather use a 918 Spyder every day <\/strong>but, as a thing just to get in and drive, the LaFerrari <\/strong>was and remains the most engaging and accessible of all the hypercars<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

5: Lotus Elan (original)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

At least within the confines of the road car design, there is no greater expression of Colin Chapman\u2019s genius than his original Elan<\/strong>. Beautiful, tiny, ultra-light and fast, it was handling from which lessons can still be learned today <\/strong>that set it apart.<\/p>\n

\n

4: Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997 Gen 2)<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

The best version <\/strong>of the best sports car<\/strong>. This is a car you can use, with performance whose full range can be enjoyed, with exceptional handling and also a fine ride. As exciting as you\u2019d want or need a road car to be.<\/p>\n

\n

3: Jaguar E-Type<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

A design landmark<\/strong>: one became a permanent resident of the New York Museum of Modern Art<\/strong>, alongside the works of Picasso, Monet, C\u00e9zanne and Degas. And it delivered on those looks. At least as fast as an Aston DB4, and less than half the price.<\/p>\n

\n

2: McLaren F1<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

The greatest supercar this country has produced<\/strong>. Moved the global boundaries of road car performance further and faster than any other. Commercially unsuccessful when new, its speed, scarcity and race record meant it would in time acquire the status of true automotive legend<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

1: Ferrari F40<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

There have been times \u2013 rare ones, I concede \u2013 where briefly the Ferrari F40 <\/strong>is superseded in my mind as the greatest road car I\u2019ve driven. It happened a few years back with the LaFerrari<\/strong>, and many years before with the McLaren F1<\/strong>. But once time is allowed for true perspective, there it always is. The F40.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Twist the key and press the little rubber button. Mayhem breaks out behind you. Anyone who says a turbo engine <\/strong>can\u2019t sound good has never listened to one of these. It\u2019s growling and gurgling, spitting and popping, and that\u2019s just at idle. If its looks don\u2019t intimidate you, the noise will.<\/p>\n

You need to respect <\/strong>this machine, but also to trust <\/strong>it. Unlike other Ferraris made around that time, 288 GTO <\/strong>included, the F40 is remarkably faithful on the limit, so if the boost arrives a trifle suddenly at the exit of a corner, you can be reassured that, first, the chassis will tell you the moment traction is about to break and, second, the steering will round up any movement at the back without even the need to lift.<\/p>\n

\n

1: Ferrari F40 \u2013 continued<\/h2>\n

\"\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019s number one <\/strong>because of all the thousands of cars I\u2019ve driven doing this job, it\u2019s the one I think of most<\/strong>. It\u2019s the one I most miss being in, the one I most don\u2019t want to get out of. Speed and grip? They\u2019re incidentals. It\u2019s about the sense of occasion, the totally immersive driving experience<\/strong>; it\u2019s every crackle from the engine, every scrape from the gearshift, every snatched breath and every tick of the bodywork as you sit at journey\u2019s end, unable to take in what just happened.<\/p>\n

And yes, it is also that this is Enzo\u2019s last car. I know he was difficult, know too he cared little for his road cars and even less for those who drove them. But I don\u2019t care. The F40 has his defiance, his iconoclasm and, though I never met him, what I imagine to be his spirit<\/strong>, too. It is, to me, still the most exciting road car in the world, if now far from being the fastest. I don\u2019t know how you get to drive one before you die, but believe me, it\u2019s the one you should covet <\/strong>above all the rest.<\/p>\n

What do you think? Vote for your favourite car from this story\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If you enjoyed this story, sign up to Autocar\u2019s newsletter for all the best car news, reviews and opinion direct to your inbox.\u00a0<\/span>Click here to subscribe<\/b>.<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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