What are the Best REAL Driver's Cars?

If you're selecting a vehicle for track days, a potential race car build, drifting, or just training and general sustained hard driving, then this guide is for you. Join us as we take a look at the criteria that determine whether a car will perform well over a prolonged period of time, and give you the best chance of success whether you're looking at getting into rally or some other motorsport.

Weight Transfer:

Produced by: Team O'Neil Rally School
Supported by:
Optima Batteries
Hawk Performance Brakes
Ford Performance
Koni Shocks
Monster Energy
AMSOIL
Yokohama Tires

[Shakshuka]

This channel is such a treasure trove of information that gets overlooked for not being overproduced drivel with obnoxious thumbnails.

[capnvariance]

I really wish they made Honda's like they did in the 90s

[pyric]

This is just good general car enthusiast buying advice we all could use hearing

[Argonaut]

Based on 10 years experience as a high perf driving instructor on tracks around the northeast, here are my thoughts:
1) Most common trackday cars by far: Miata (all), E36, C5 & 6. To lesser extent Fiesta, Focus and VW hatches. Price, parts support and reliability all contribute to popularity (along with the driving fun of course)
2) popular but seem to be really fragile are the Subaru’s - they break far to often compared to above. An interesting observation considering O’Neil rallies them...?
3) The FRS sibs are a more recent addition to track days and so far so good - they seem to be holding up really well and are a great driver’s car
4) my track day only car of choice is an Ariel Atom SRA: $30K used, zero driver’s aids (even steering and brakes are manual), ~1400 lbs, honda drive train, 1 set of tires and pads per year, rotors ever 2 years. Literally put gas in it and drive. Virtually no maintenance.

[rishishankarr]

Miata might not be a rally car but it is a real Driver's car for sure

[rohithnaik]

Amazing coverage, truly useful conceptual advice is rare on Youtube.

[richardtickler]

at 24:00 he basically sais "go mental its a rental" about his own cars

[johnnyturbo]

I texted with you about a month ago on here about this. I was asking about the Fiesta 5spd vs the 2003ish ford Focus SVT... i went with the 2014 Ford Fiesta SE thanks to much of what you are saying here and I'm glad I did. THANKS BROTHER.

It's all set up now for the rallycross season

[streetdog]

Wyatt should be doing car reviews for world-class magazines and automotive media. Great info as always👍

[patonbike]

At the 5k mark... Old 5speed subaru. 2005 is one of the best NA years. Drive by wire(ECU Flash capable), No AVLS, return fuel system. Super easy to work on, cheap parts. LSD's readily available. No traction control.

[williamcooper]

I got into rallycross last year. I was looking for a budget car. I found a 99 legacy gt 5spd for 700 bucks. I put some new struts on it and a skid plate. I have been beating on the car for over a year now and haven't had any issues surprisingly. and it has been really competitive in stock awd class.

[BaioWithMayo]

I like this with the exception of age. while I know logically it makes sense to go newer, the simplicity that comes from older rides (like a 90s miata) is just invaluable when something does break. What I look for is a good running engine and no chassis rust (body rust is fine its getting dented anyway) and everything else i can fix. This is anecdotal, but I had a corvette 09 that had an airbag sensor go bad during cold weather only. Thats just a pain that wont appear in something simpler like a miata. If you are comfortable working on cars, or are looking to get comfortable, I still highly recommend going old, cheap and simple since hard driving in whatever you are hooning in is gunna cause damage over time. THEN move on to bigger stuff, newer stuff, or simply more complex cars with your basic mechanical knowledge gained from an older ride.


if you arent interested in working on your own stuff though, for sure go as new as possible with what you can afford, so you can beat on it every day

[tokenride]

So glad i was able to get my 86 Mercedes Cosworths for less than 2k each. 5spd dogleg with mechanical LSD. Been very reliable and fun the last 8 years.

[NSXTypeRGTRLM]

Basically he's laying out a Jalopnik Nice Price or Crack Pipe in plain language.

[SonoftheBread]

Any year Honda Fit/Jazz is a great little hatch honestly. Decent performance numbers (for what it is), light, manual, some trims have LSDs (aftermarket ones are available), good MPG, cheap, and pretty sturdy for the most part. There's even a Honda Fit Spec racing series that's pretty entertaining to watch. I've seen one in Autocross that was hanging with Miatas and well built BMW's. Wheels and tires are fairly small which help cut costs too. I don't know how good the aftermarket is for them but thankfully they're fairly simple to modify for most things on it and some of the more popular engine options have good aftermarket support. And hey, VTEC bro.

[markthibault]

It's a real bummer that Ford has decided to stop selling cars (other than the Mustang) in North America. The new Fiesta ST looks very cool and comes from the factory with a mech LSD.

[smithkid]

How is there not a single comment about 350Z, G35, 370Z and G37? Depending on budget, theyre such great bargains for any performance driving on pavement. That plus they pass through every filter in on the board with ease.

[nicolasgauthier]

I daily an frs right now and I agree with your recommendation. Amazing car for the money. I would also recommend the compact and subcompact Japanese cars like the corolla XRS or the civic SI. They are very forgiving, affordable, and unbreakable. Good cars to learn on.

[RebeccaCampbell]

I raced RWD V8's in the 80's and 90's in both 1/4 mile and track... I drove an AWD Porsche Turbo... And now I am racing a Mazdaspeed 3... And I don't see any being better, a good driver adjusts... AWD is faster but leaks more power than the other two... RWD is fun to control under steer and oversteer with power more than just speed vectors, and it has a minor power leak... FWD is more forgiving yet faster than the RWD, leaks less power than the other two and if Mustangs are fun at launch so is the torque steer of a 400+ bhp FWD

Buying a sports car has some advantages, the oem suspension and springs are more solid than the same regular sedan or hatch so you can leave that to upgrade till last. Also the engine platform is better than a regular version with smaller size engine.
The rest, starting with tires, is probably the same... A regular Civic from a Mustang.

Handling -> tires.... TIRES! Upgrading springs with out the best tires is nonsensical. Brake pads are super important, I haven't seen a stock brand which is anything but mediocre, all brands!

And the driver is the most important part... Can anyone here remain cool when a "fast car" revs up and launches at a light on the street? No? Then you shouldn't be driving a fast car at all... Cool mind, calculations, risk assessment.... The more the better.

[TopiasSalakka]

I'm probably getting a Lexus IS200/Toyota Altezza. RWD, manual, some have an LSD, and enough power for me. Also very reliable.