‘The best cars I’ve ever driven’
News & reviews ed Johnny Burn picks his top-five models
“My first impression was being truly amazed by the quality of the Fiesta ST’s ride”
No1. Ford Fiesta ST
THROUGHOUT this series, we’ve seen two Ferraris, a McLaren and a Porsche top the ‘Best cars I’ve ever driven’ list. All of them deserve to be there because, quite simply, they’re all exceptional machines. But for me, the overall appeal of a car has as much to do with how attainable it is, as the grin it puts on your face.
Of course, attainability is a relative concept, but for me nothing comes close to the latest Ford Fiesta ST. Sure, I’ve driven cars that are faster – much faster – cost a lot more, and make you grip the wheel tighter, as well as some that are close to addictive. But the Fiesta ST perfectly encapsulates what makes a truly great driver’s car.
When the model was first introduced, I remember there wasn’t a single thing I wanted to drive more. The previous ST was stellar, so I had high hopes for the latest version – but I also had some reservations, because the move to a three-cylinder engine was unheard of for a hot hatch. My first chance to drive the ST came when I managed to persuade our senior reviewer, Sam Naylor, to give me the keys to his fleet car for a weekend – the very car you can see above. I planned a route from London to my hometown of Newcastle, which veered off at the Yorkshire Dales, went up through the North Pennines and finally ended in the barren but beautiful hills of Northumberland.
My first impression was being truly amazed by the quality of the ST’s ride. The previous model was about as relaxing as a trip down a flight of stairs, but the latest version was more than comfortable enough to use everyday. That thought was compounded after 200 miles on the M1.
Over the Yorkshire Moors and North Pennines, the ST just got better and better. The more I drove it, the more I loved it. The power delivery, rate of response, steering, balance, noise... everything felt so well engineered and put together. I enjoy driving it as much today as I did back when it was launched, and I wouldn’t think twice about spending my own cash on one if I had the opportunity.
No2. Ferrari 812 Superfast
I’LL be the first to recognise that having a £262,963 Ferrari as number two on my ‘best drives’ list contradicts my previous argument about attainability – but sometimes a car simply leaves you truly stunned. And that’s exactly what happened when I had the chance to drive the 812 Superfast.
The images you see here are, in fact, the exact shots we snapped for a drive report back in 2018 – our first chance to experience the 812 in the UK. I had to get myself to Ferrari’s UK HQ in Slough first thing on a cold Tuesday morning in March to collect the car; the lurid yellow paintwork contrasted wonderfully with the rather miserable weather.
Even sitting still, the 812 just looked intimidating. And then I was handed the spec sheet, which said the model I was about to navigate back through London traffic was listed at £337,555, fully kitted out. It had around £75,000-worth of extra trinkets fitted to it.
From start to finish, the thing that dominated the 812’s driving experience was the monstrous 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12. Given the industry’s focus on electrification, there’s unlikely to be an engine like it ever again without the presence of some form of electrical assistance. It will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest powerplants of all time.
Right from idle, a mere flex of my right foot brought a tidal wave of noise and power. Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome’s two-mile runway felt like an appropriate setting given the ferocity of the acceleration. Every gearshift was accompanied by a thump in the back as the revs and speed continued to climb at relentless pace.
The 812 Superfast is also one of the few cars that’s genuinely terrified me behind the wheel. The narrow, winding and greasy back roads around Bruntingthorpe were not what this model was developed for. Thankfully I managed to return it to Slough without so much as knocking a penny from its outrageous price tag.
“Every gearshift was accompanied by a thump in the back as the revs and speed continued to climb”