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Power Isn’t Everything!
Power makes cars fast in a straight line, but handling and driving dynamics make a car fast everywhere. The old adage of “it’s better to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow” is still alive today. Cars today are faster than ever before, but with that speed has come with a price. A lack of manual transmissions, bulky vehicles, and electronic nannies have taken away from the driver experience. The feeling of a raw connection between car and driver is all but gone. Fortunately, there is a plethora of vehicles ready for you to experience. In this article, we are going to discuss the finest driver centric vehicles available to you!
Legendary Low Horsepower Cars
Mazda Miata
This list is nothing without the quintessential roadster: The Mazda Miata. When Mazda created the Miata MX-5, the focus was the driving experience. A high revving, but low power four cylinder mated to a 5-speed manual, along with rear-wheel drive, provides a British sports car feel with Japanese reliability. Over the years, when car enthusiasts ask what car they should get, the answer is usually a Mazda Miata. With a world renowned chassis and a limitless aftermarket, it makes perfect sense why it is a great beginner tuner car and is known as a JDM legend. Today, you can find Miatas on race tracks and car meets everywhere. The Miata may only provide you with around 90 wheel horsepower, you can throw this car into a corner or dominate a canyon with ease.
Lotus Elise
Speaking of British sports cars with Japanese reliability, the Lotus Elise is the perfect example of such a car. Powered by a 2ZZ Toyota four cylinder, the Lotus can take on any canyon or race track in stock form. This forgotten sports car is a featherweight at 2000 pounds. With around 190 horsepower, this low horsepower car has an insane power-to-weight ratio. When you get inside a Lotus Elise, you immediately see the contrast to some more modern sports cars. This vehicle is intentionally bare bones and is designed for a pure driving experience. Few cars are as capable as the Lotus Elise when it comes to driving dynamics and inspiring confidence in its driver.
Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ
When Toyota (as Scion) collaborated with Subaru to create the FR-S/GT86/BRZ, they created a future racing platform for the street. Lightweight, rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, and a flat-four engine with a low center of gravity combine into a fantastic tuner car. While the FA20 engine left some to be desired, I can assure you the newer FA24 is a vast improvement. The extra thirty horsepower and torque feels just right for a car of this caliber. Best of all, the GT86/BRZ platform has a huge aftermarket to transform this low horsepower car into a capable machine.
Honda CR-X
Before the world of K-Series swaps and high horsepower Hondas, there was the OG Honda CR-X taking the tuner world by storm. The Honda CR-X is an incredibly lightweight, front-wheel drive hatchback yearning to show you a good time. The CR-X may only make around 130-160 horsepower depending on the engine, but it has plenty of fun. If you can find one, a CR-X with a B16 will be perfect to rip around town (safely!) or at your local track day.
Triumph Spitfire
If a classic car with unlimited fun is your preference, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Triumph Spitfire. Whenever I go to classic car meets, you are guaranteed to see some very cool British motor cars. What is so appealing about these cars are the driving dynamics. Similar to the Miata, the Triumph is designed for a pure roadster experience. The vintage engine may not be a powerhouse, but the featherweight sports car can surely tear up a track!
Why Get A Low Horsepower Car?
The modern car scene is filled with high horsepower and high tech sports cars. You are hard pressed to find simplistic cars, even amongst the classic car community. With restomod builds transforming analog machines, there are not many raw cars left. Fortunately, the market of low horsepower cars is very much alive. Experiencing a low horsepower car like an old school British roadster or a high-revving CR-X gives you the feeling of you and your car being one. Driving these types of cars allow you to engage in the drama of climbing the rev range. In contrast, the handling characteristics of these cars are remarkable thanks to the incredibly low weight. If you want a pure automotive machine, these low horsepower cars might be the right fit for you.
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