What Car Are You Convinced Is Great Even Though You’ve Never Driven It?

For those afflicted by the automotive hobby in their youth, the hero car is a common phenomenon. Whether it’s a Ferrari F40 or a Lexus LFA, there are always the untouchables that are nothing short of canonized. As age and wisdom build, some of those hero cars can lose their luster, but some of us still have those machines that we hold in great regard, even if we’ll likely never drive one. Maybe it’s the experience that comes with the job, but finding a personal example took a bit of searching because I’m generally a skeptic.

Unless I have prior experience with a powertrain or chassis, just about any car could go either way. However, there is one exception for me, just because spec sheets and period road tests give enough information to suggest that it’s probably fun. Yep, it’s the TVR Sagaris.

With a 406-horsepower four-liter inline-six, a five-speed manual gearbox, a curb weight of 2,731 pounds, and styling from Mars, the TVR Sagaris sounds like an absolute riot. More importantly, it seems better built than most TVR models, with Evo writing:

So instead of reporting on a sexier, more savage Sagaris, I’m here to tell you about things like washer jets fixed to the scuttle instead of floppy rubber tubes lashed to the windscreen wipers; supportive Sparco seats that don’t wobble during hard acceleration, braking or cornering; new floor-hinged pedals made with a curve so that you don’t have to overextend your ankles to fully depress the clutch or accelerator; tailgate glass with a beautiful alloy latch instead of a recess designed solely to pinch your fingers; rear-exiting exhausts that spit and pop but don’t resonate; and bodywork that doesn’t act as a trap for every leaf, granite chipping and errant cigarette butt. The list goes on.

Properly quick, lightweight, and built with some semblance of care sounds like a winning formula. The TVR Sagaris is probably good fun, even if it’s still a TVR, so things like ergonomics aren’t a massive concern. I still want one, because really, it seems like a difficult vehicle to go wrong with, provided you start with the right set of expectations.

So, what car are you convinced is great even though you’ve never driven it? Whether you idolize the R32 Skyline GT-R or just know intrinsically that the C6 Corvette ZR1 is spectacular, I’d love to hear your answers in the comments below.

(Photo credits: TVR)

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