My aging 1996 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 seems really secure and like it is on rails when driven at normal speeds of between 30-60 mph (50-100km/h). It is loaded with safety features like 4WD, AYC, ESC, ABS, etc. I have a slightly lowered suspension (40mm) and 18" lightweight alloys shod with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric.
It feels really safe to drive, but I am thinking it may possibly be too safe to be fun and it has does not have the feeling of driving at the edge at these more normal speeds. Don't get me wrong, when I take it out on the open road and cruise through corners at speed most people crawl through, it's a great feeling, as I always tell my wife, holding her seat next to me.
In the next few years, I will probably have to let this car go as maintenance and fuel costs may skyrocket, however, if I am lucky I may still have it when it is 20 years old (only 5 years away only). So my thoughts are starting to wonder to a replacement vehicle and I am thinking about a more smaller / nimble car and am unsure what may have the fun factor.
I am looking at the Suzuki Swift Sport, Mazda 2, Ford Fiesta, Mini Cooper, Citroen DS3, Alfa Romeo Mito, Honda Civic, etc. Small cars with lots of character and I suspect lot's of fun. Also briefly considered was an MX-5 Hard-top. The newer mid-range hatch-backs, like the Focus, Lancer, Mazda 3, Golf, etc, have grown to be the same size and weight of my car with less power in most cases. So I am thinking if I am going to have to have a less power, I want less weight to go with it as well.
I'm not into all these active safety features, like air-bags, crumple zones, etc., as I prefer accident avoidance as opposed to accident survival, given that more accidents are avoided then actually occur, I assume.
In addition, I will not be buying brand-new so the current market models are what I will be considering when I buy, as they will then be significantly cheaper on the second-hand market. So opinions are sought on lightweight nimble small-cars that may be fun to drive as well.