Best Handling American Cars

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3spddrft

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IShouldStudy
What do y'all think are the best handling american cars? No limits on the list but let's try to extend beyond the Saleen S7, Corvette ZR1, Mosler MT900, and Ford GT because I think those are obvious contenders. What about FF cars? 80s cars? 70s cars? AWD cars?

I will update the OP as people post suggestions :-)

Buick GNX
Buick Reatta
Buick Regal
Cadillac CTS-V
Cadillac XLR
Chevrolet Beretta GTZ/GTU
Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Cosworth Vega
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevrolet SSR
Chrysler 300C
Dodge Challenger T/A
Dodge Charger SRT8
Dodge Neon ACR
Dodge Neon SRT-4
Dodge Stratus R/T
Dodge Stealth R/T
Dodge Viper
Ford Contour SVT
Ford Fiesta ST
Ford SVT Lightning
Ford Mustang Boss 302
Ford Mustang Cobra R
Ford Mustang SVO
Ford Taurus SHO
Mercury Cougar
Mercury Marauder
Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais
Plymouth AAR Cuda
Plymouth Prowler
Panoz Esperante
Pontiac GTO
Pontiac GXP
Pontiac Fiero GT
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Pontiac Solstice
Saleen S281
Saturn Sky
Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
 
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These are just quick guesses, but:

FF - Dodge Neon SRT-4

80s - Buick GNX

70s - Camaro Z28's, Trans AM's, Boss Mustangs, and the Corvette.

AWD - Taurus SHO, Chrysler 300C/SRT8, Dodge Charger R/T & SRT8, Cadillac CTS.

All I can think of now.
 
xXKingJoshXx
AWD - Taurus SHO, Chrysler 300C/SRT8, Dodge Charger R/T & SRT8, Cadillac CTS.
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No AWD in any of those.

Also, when the second generation F-Body came along in 1970, it wasn't unusual for the Trans Am to beat Corvettes in handling tests.
 
The AAR Cuda, Challenger T/A, and Cosworth Vega were all nice handling cars for their time. Newer cars would be the 1LE, Z28, and ZL1 Camaro. The Sky Redline and Solstice GXP are also very nice handling cars. They come stock with Bilstine shocks. The Buick Regal GS is a very nice handling AWD car.

Murcie_LP640
All of them have AWD options.
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Didn't know the 300 and Charger have AWD options. I'm almost positive they don't in America.
 
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It depends on how you define "handling." Is it cornering grip and laptimes, or handling balance and poise?

The Chevrolet Cobalt SS is a very quick, grippy car around a track, but you can't steer the car through a sweeping 4-wheel drift with only your right foot.
 
Please put full names of that cars that you guys mention. I don't know what a 1LE is off the top of my head, ya know?
 
Cano
No AWD in any of those.

Also, when the second generation F-Body came along in 1970, it wasn't unusual for the Trans Am to beat Corvettes in handling tests.
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I actually read it was one of the best handling cars of the '70s.
 
As far as FWD goes, the 1st gen Neon ACR and 2nd gen SRT-4 ACR were phenomenal in the handling department.
 
xXKingJoshXx
80s - Buick GNX
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GNX handled like crap. Even the TySy twins handled better. 80's the answer is either the C4 with the Z51 package (which was so obnoxiously stiffly sprung and over-tired that it might as well not have had suspension at all) or the Firebird with the WS6 package.

Justin
You can get both in AWD in the U.S.
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Not the SRT ones.
 
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Couldn't have handled too bad if everyone and their mother is after Regal/Grand Nationals and Monte Carlo's like they are.

I'd say the SVO Mustang was a decent contender in the handling department. Certainly not amazing but probably one of the better ones.
 
Slashfan
Couldn't have handled too bad if everyone and their mother is after Regal/Grand Nationals and Monte Carlo's like they are.
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Because they were the last RWD mid-sized cars made by an American manufacturer. They also all were available with V8s from the factory, and the last cars used in NASCAR that had large resemblance to the road versions. Basically, they were the last things that could be considered muscle cars in the classic style.




But they weren't known for handling because they weren't designed to be known for it.
 
Tornado
Because they were the last RWD mid-sized cars made by an American manufacturer. They also all were available with V8s from the factory, and the last cars used in NASCAR that had large resemblance to the road versions. Basically, they were the last things that could be considered muscle cars.




But they weren't known for handling because they weren't designed to be known for it.
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I suppose your right. Having never driven one anyways I couldn't really argue against that.
 
All true but .79 on the skidpad is pretty good for 1987. That's not the top-of-the-line ASC McLaren model either.
 
'00 Ford Mustang Cobra R
'66 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
'01 Panoz Esperante
'04 Cadillac CTS-V
'09 Cadillac CTS-V
'10 Rossion Q1
'00 Saleen S281
 
The last generation ACR Viper is supposed to be quite a good handling car as well as the new Viper GTS.
 
Are we counting the Focus? They've been mostly good to drive.

Also:

SVT Contour
Lincoln LS
SVT Lightning
Any Chrysler with GLH or GLHS in the name.
 
GMC Syclone* (AWD S10 with Turbo V6)


That would be a nice edition to the GT line up too.
 
Tornado
Because they were the last RWD mid-sized cars made by an American manufacturer. They also all were available with V8s from the factory, and the last cars used in NASCAR that had large resemblance to the road versions. Basically, they were the last things that could be considered muscle cars in the classic style.




But they weren't known for handling because they weren't designed to be known for it.
Click to expand...


+1 I have yet to see one even on a road course.. For what its worth The G platform that underpins them is pretty much the only chassis that is used on amateur and semi pro Oval track racing
 
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Ford Escort of the late 90's held its own in the handling department, supposedly keeping up with the Corvette in the slalom. *Car and Driver I believe
 
Eunos_Cosmo
SVT Contour
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This car really does handle well. I rode shotgun in one that had some different springs in it to lower it a bit, better tires and a CAI (altough at more than 2 kilometers above sea level I'm sure it didn't do a damn thing) and the car was surprisingly agile. I've always wanted one :dopey:
 

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