What sports car is right for fun on the track and comfort on the road?
It's well known that sports car enthusiasts like to push their machines. And, of course, there's nothing like the controlled environment of a closed circuit, whether for free practice sessions, special track days or real races.
The problem is when it comes to combining pleasure and performance with comfort on the road. For while a firm suspension and supportive seat are much appreciated on the tarmac, the same cannot be said of streets and boulevards littered with bumps, cracks and potholes.
A driver in his late forties asked us in the last few days: what would be the ideal sports car to have fun on the track and be comfortable on the road? Preferably a relatively affordable used model," he added.
Well, yes, this kind of car does exist. We can even suggest different configurations - for example, the Volkswagen Golf R, if you like the practicality of a hatchback, or the Dodge Challenger, a big coupe that reinvents the muscle cars of yesteryear and offers surprisingly comfortable front seats.
Let's take a look at a sports sedan that offers an excellent compromise between sportiness and relaxation: the Audi S4. For under $40,000, it's relatively easy to find a good example. This German car boasts a turbocharged V6 developing 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, so it's not short of fire when it comes to exiting curves and attacking straights. And it's an engine that never loses its manners, as Car Guide journalist Marc Lachapelle points out.
The S4's excellent quattro all-wheel drive and fine, precise steering give it outstanding roadholding and handling, but the sport suspension (reworked for 2018) remains forgiving on public roads - especially in the Technik version, which includes adjustable damping.
Enfin, son habitacle de première classe possède un joli niveau de raffinement et de confort, avec des sièges bien sculptés et des commandes ergonomiques. Se glisser à bord est également un jeu d’enfant, contrairement à bon nombre de voitures sport au poste de pilotage radical.
