14 Dangerous Cars That Are Too Fun To Drive

Dialing in the fun factor is a significant selling point for any carmaker. But at what expense? Fun comes with its risks, no matter what you drive. Here are 14 dangerous cars that are a hoot to drive.

Naturally, sports cars deliver the biggest thrill ride. As speed grows, a sense of danger creeps in, elevating your adrenalin levels. Where fun becomes danger can be a balancing act. Ask any gearhead who’s driven Bugatti’s Veryon, and tales of 250mph top speeds are marred by the warning Bugatti issues that its tires have a life expectancy of 15 minutes. After which, you’ve stepped into the realm of danger. But we all want to try it.

Returning to more regular cars, big-name manufacturers have gotten it wrong in the past. Flawed vehicles or those with low safety features are cause for concern. Fun is fleeting, but the danger is never far away.

TVR Sagaris

Britain’s answer to the muscle car, TVR, is a no-holds-barred speed machine that demands your attention. In truth, any TVR requires the utmost respect. The Sagaris is one of those cars that demands to be driven hard, urging drivers on with a wailing soundtrack.

The last TVR was produced under UK control and was the best handling model ever. But don’t be fooled. Unlike its peers, TVR lacks safety features, meaning ABS, traction control, and airbags are unavailable. However, the wail of TVR’s SpeedSix engine is intoxicating and gets better as the speed grows, as does the risk of binning it if you overstep the mark.

Porsche 930 Turbo

As motoring style icons go, the original 911 or 930 Turbo was a masterpiece of form and function. Porsche worked tirelessly with their 3.3-liter flat-six to boost power output, notably by bolting on the K26 turbocharger. More air in equates to more power out.

Significant power gains come with a potentially deadly drawback. Early turbochargers suffer from lag, and the 930 is no different. Step on the gas pedal in the wrong gear, and a lengthy spoiling up or lag will catch you out. On a good day, you’ll enjoy the surge of power only a 911 Turbo can deliver. On a bad one, the armco is seconds away from becoming part of the car.

Lancia Stratos HF

Lightning-fast reactions are essential to getting the most out of the Stratos. WRC regulations dictated the car’s razor-sharp handling, which means the difference between hero and zero. It is excellent for blasting from corner to corner, sending clouds of gravel airborne, but less so on public roads, especially in the wet.

Think of the Stratos as a Ferrari in drag. Under the diminutive body lays a Ferrari Dino V6 cranking out 190 hp, which coerces the 2161 lb two-seater to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. Around town, you’ll struggle to see what the fuss is about. On the open roads, it is a different animal entirely.

Caparo T1

Every gearhead dreams of racing a single-seater, but few will ever realize the dream. Fortunately, Capro, a niche British sportscar maker, was listening and engineered the T1. At first sight, the T1’s enclosed-wheel race-car-style body resembles a prototype you’d expect in Gran Turismo.

In reality, it’s not far from the truth. Only a handful of T1s exist for a good reason. Early demonstrators either caught fire or disintegrated during testing. However, lucky owners who got a fully working T1 were quickly shocked by the brutal performance available. Slung out back, the key to the T1’s design is a 3.5-liter F1-style V8 punching out 575 hp. Caparo claimed the T1 would crack 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and run on to a top speed of 205 mph.

Morgan 3 Wheeler

Wind in the hair driving thrills don’t come any better. The Morgan 3 Wheeler has been around in one guise or another since 1911. It’s a simple, lightweight two-seater paired back to the bare essentials and fun to drive.

Most notably, you only get three wheels: two upfront to control direction and a single drive wheel at the back to get you there. While it’s undeniably fun to chuck around, lacking a fourth wheel produces some alarming handling traits. Added to the stability issues, Morgan uses a twin-cylinder motorcycle engine ahead of the front axle. 

Dodge Viper (SR)

Reinventing the muscle car seemed like a good choice. Unfortunately, the Viper was too hardcore for most, and the unassisted chassis and drivetrain scared the life out of those who dared drive one. Over time, Dodge addressed some concerns, but it was still a giant V10-engine monster. 

Despite a scary reputation, gearheads still appreciate the Viper for what it represented. It was the first proper all-new muscle car in decades boasting supercar performance in a simple front-rear drive chassis. And then we get to the numbers. When the Viper bailed out, displacement had grown to 8.4 liters, producing 640 hp.

Austin Mini Moke

Closely related to the classic Mini, the Moke was a paired-back convertible initially aimed at the military. It is a sound concept but for one problem: the Land Rover. Abandoning their scaled-down Jeep idea, the Moke entered the domestic market.

As a cheap, low-weight beach-buggy style car, it was fun and delivered brisk performance from its 848 cc engine. With little passenger protection, the doors and roof were simple canvas affairs; rolling a Moke, or worse, crashing highlights the car’s bare-bones design.

Opel Speedster

The Opel Speedster should have been a winner. It boasts more fun and performance than an Elise. The two cars are identical except for the different body styles and engines. In place of Rover/Toyota engines, Opel chose the Z20LET and turbocharged it to good effect.

At 2050 lbs, the Speedster is a featherweight rear-drive sportscar sporting 200 hp and promising a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds. It sounds ideal in ideal conditions. But anything other than a mirror-smooth, dry surface exposes the Speedster’s weakness. Push too hard, and the mid-engine chassis, with little warning, would end in a spin.

Toyota MR-2 Spyder

Replacing Toyota’s successful MR-2 coupe would never be easy. For the final generation, the Japanese carmaker switched tacks and chose a Spyder body as the sole option. On appearances, gearheads were not immediately impressed. However, getting past the visuals, the MR-2 Spyder was scintillating to drive thanks to a zesty 1.8-liter ZZ engine.

Now for the bad news. Like all mid-engined cars approaching the chassis limits of grip, the MR-2 Spyder does not warn what can happen next. Push a little too hard, and snap-oversteer will quickly pitch you into a spin.

Dodge Challenger

Bad news for muscle car fans: the Dodge Challenger, as fun as it can be, is flawed. Admittedly, the allure of a 6.4-liter V8 pumping out 485 hp is hard to ignore. The soundtrack is undoubtedly one of the greatest ever made.

But power and speed without control can end badly. Under the chassis, a modern-sounding 5-link independent suspension set-up keeps the 245/45ZR20 ties in contact with the tarmac. However, poorly specified damper and spring rates are underwhelming, especially when pushed hard in the corners. 

Pontiac Fiero

Uncle Sam’s first mid-engined sports car, the Fiero, promised driving thrills on a budget. Here lies the problem. Built down to a price and then poorly finished or underdeveloped, the Fiero was short-lived, lasting five years. Was it as bad as the stories that blighted it? 

As a finished product, it was worse. Tales of fire-related issues are familiar, as are reliability issues attributed to the lackluster Iron Duke engine. But on a good day when everything works as it should, the Fiero is a hoot to drive.

AC Cobra

The unmistakable V8 burble of the Cobra is enough to tempt any gearhead. Succumbing to the two-seater roadster might be the most fun you ever have on four wheels. Designed as a no-hold-barred track-inspired road car, the Cobra boasts a big V8, delivering bucket loads of torque to the rear wheels. In between, traction control only exists in your right foot.

Delving deeper, I see that the odd weight balance of the Cobra should be a cause for warning. Several hundred pounds of Ford V8 make the Cobra front heavy, making it surprisingly easy to light up the rear tires. Too much gas too soon, and the back end will come unstuck.

Ferrari 599 GTO

Anything adorned with the prancing horse is high on the wishlist for gearheads. The Ferrari 599 GTO is a track-focused variant of an already fast and demanding car. Capable of delivering a sucker punch to anyone who dares to select the Manettino to off. Off translates to you’re on your own.

What makes the 599 GTO so tempting is the 661-hp front-mounted 6-liter V12. With no clever AWD, the rear tires face a herculean task of keeping things in check. All too often, the immense power overwhelms the tires, sending the car and driver sideways at the first opportunity.

McLaren Senna

Out of reach for most gearheads, the McLaren Senna was produced in low numbers and came with a steep asking price. Senna is a pure driving machine developed as a hardcore track car rooted in the formidable 720S.

Ignoring the steep $1.5 million asking price momentarily, driving one should be at the top of every gearhead’s wish list. However, it’s not without its issues. Sure, a top speed of 211 mph will put a massive grin on your face, as will a sub-three-second 0-60 mph time. Just be ready to bail out should things get a bit toasty; the Senna has been known to catch fire.