09 Jun 09
Ford Focus (1997-)
Pick a Focus, any Focus, and you're in for the drive of your life. And no, we haven't lost our mind.
If you haven't driven one you really should: the Focus sits wheel-to-wheel with some of the best-driving machinery in the world.
For this you have to thank the hideous Escort. At the end of its life it was so mediocre and so woeful to drive that Ford were forced to try a lot harder on its replacement.
For the Focus, Ford developed an all-new independent 'control blade' rear axle that was so good it forced most of its competition to go back to the drawing board. As a result the small family class is now jam-packed full of talented cars.
Escort, we salute you!
Ferrari 430 Scuderia (2007-)
The F40 should be our choice here, but it isn't the friendliest of cars to drive and there's the strong possibility it will kill you.
That's because of the two dustbin-sized turbos needed to generate its incredible 478bhp from a modest 2.9-litre V8. In anything less than perfect conditions, you'll be spat into the scenery before you realise you've made a mistake.
The sublime Scuderia couldn't be more different. Weighing in at 100kgs lighter than the regular F430, it screams to 62mph in just 3.6 seconds - 0.1 seconds faster than an F40. Thanks to gearchanges fired away in just 60 milliseconds with a flick of the paddle, you can keep your hands on the wheel, helping you enjoy the searing pace, sensational drive and the peace of mind from knowing you'll bring it home in one piece.
