We can no longer ignore the fact that the automotive market is finally turning into a faceless mass of identical gadgets on wheels. Over the past five years, dozens of interesting models for enthusiasts have been discontinued from production, and no successors have been introduced to replace them. At this rate, soon there will be no driver's cars left in the world, and enthusiasts who enjoy getting emotions from driving will be forced to buy only used cars. For this article, we barely managed to gather a list of ten cars currently in production, the purpose of which is to deliver emotions to the owner, rather than just transport them from point A to point B.

No, we are, of course, aware that for wealthy car enthusiasts, there are still brands like Porsche, Aston Martin, and McLaren. Expensive sports cars are not going to disappear from the market, at least not as long as there are people on our planet for whom the only problem related to money is choosing what to spend it on. However, in this material, we will consider cars that are not cheap, but not ultra-expensive either. Some of them can even be called affordable, albeit with some stretch. The cars described below are a kind of representation of the "Red Book of Cars for Enthusiasts". Soon, such models will completely disappear from the market, but for now, enthusiasts who enjoy driving have a choice. It's worth noting that many of these cars are available in only a limited number of markets.

Toyota GR Yaris

The Toyota GR Yaris is not just a "charged" hatchback like the Ford Fiesta ST. It's a rally car adapted for public roads. When you first drive it on wet asphalt, playing with the gas pedal without restraint, it feels like it was released on the civilian market by mistake. The GR version has nothing in common with the regular Yaris. They even have different bodies - the GR is only available as a three-door.

Under the hood of this little "hooligan" is a 3-cylinder turbo engine with a volume of 1.6 liters, which develops from 261 to 304 horsepower, depending on the version and restyling. The driver has a manual transmission and permanent all-wheel drive with differentials of increased friction at their disposal. On the German autobahn, this hatchback has no business being there. But a winding gravel road or an asphalt mountain serpentine turns the GR Yaris into an endless source of emotions.

Mazda MX-5

While the global automotive industry is obsessed with giant screens, autopilots, and electric motors, the Mazda MX-5 remains one of the last bastions of pure "analog" pleasure. It is a kind of monument to lightweight and affordable rear-wheel drive sports cars. It's amazing that in this world, a car is still being produced with so little marketing.

Under the long hood of the MX-5 is an atmospheric engine. At the driver's disposal is a short-stroke "mechanics" and an ideal weight distribution along the axles (with half the mass on the rear and front wheels). The center of gravity of the car is approximately in the area of the armrest, which means that making turns on it is a pure pleasure. And although the MX-5 is considered the most popular roadster in the world, the main feature of this car is not the removable roof, but the sensations from driving. This model is one of the few legal ways to experience physical pleasure from moving in space.

Considering that the "three" has long since moved away from the idea of a light and simple BMW, the spiritual heir to the old school BMW E30/E46 can be called the 2-Series. The G42 body model did not receive huge "nostrils" and still looks like the BMWs we love. And the M240i version has become perhaps the most adequate offer in the entire modern BMW lineup, if you're looking for a top-of-the-line model for your money in terms of handling.

This is a car for those who want to get a classic Bavarian drive of the old school, but at the same time are not ready to sacrifice comfort and overpay cosmic money for a full-fledged M badge. Although if you have the money, the M2 in this body is simply a benchmark for compact sports cars. Under the hood of the M240i is the legendary inline "six" B58 with a volume of 3 liters and turbocharging. Unfortunately, the Germans removed the "mechanics" from this lineup and offer the model only with all-wheel drive, but the transmission settings allow you to both "thrash" on the track on weekends and drive calmly to work. In general, the last real BMW.

Toyota GR86

It is generally believed that Toyota makes boring cars for housewives, but it is the only brand to appear twice in our current ranking. In addition to the aforementioned GR Yaris, the Japanese brand has another model for enthusiasts on a budget - the GR86 (previously known as the GT86). The creators of this coupe looked at how modern cars are made and did the opposite. The car also has a sibling from Subaru.

Under the hood of this compact "two-door" is an honest atmospheric engine with a volume of 2.4 liters (2 liters in the GT86). The opposing engine was specifically created by Subaru's engineers. It works in conjunction with a manual or automatic transmission, and there is no electronic "surrogate" here. The unit is tuned so that a huge part of the torque is available from low revs. If you want to drive fast, rev the engine, work the clutch, and catch the car on the way out of a turn. What more could you want? But the main thing is that the GR86 does not require lengthy training on the tracks. Even a beginner driver will get their dose of adrenaline. And professionals will be able to do simply incredible things with this coupe. And, of course, the GR86 has virtually endless potential for tuning.

Nissan Z

When in 2019, Nissan announced that it would return the Z family to its portfolio, there were rumors that it could be another crossover. But by September 2020, it became clear that instead of the 845th SUV, the Nissan line would be supplemented with a real 2-door car. A very bold project for the 2020s. The new Z is a living embodiment of the classic automotive school of the old days.

Under the elegant hood of the car is hidden not a fashionable hybrid unit, but a 3-liter biturbo V6 (VR30DDTT), producing solid 400 horsepower. The list of options includes a 9-speed "automatic", but by default, the Z is equipped with what can only be dreamed of today - a 6-speed manual with automatic gear shifting function. Here is a pure rear-wheel drive, a classic silhouette with references to the cult Datsun 240Z, and a raised tail. Today, this is one of the most accessible (to the extent that this word can be applied to the world of sports cars) gasoline cars with 400 horsepower. Unfortunately, European eco-standards have forced this wonderful model out of the EU market.

You probably haven't noticed, but the market has almost completely lost sight of high-performance C-class cars. It's been a long time since there was news in the media about the rivalry between the Renault Megane RS and the Honda Civic Type-R for the title of the fastest front-wheel drive car on the Nurburgring. This is because the Megane RS no longer exists, just like the Ford Focus ST, Opel Astra OPC, Kia Ceed GT, Hyundai i30 N, and others. However, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type-R are still in the running.

The new generation of Golf GTI has become too sterile. The Germans have removed the manual transmission for this model, and the interior is now all sensory and glossy. In general, it's just a fast car for pushing through traffic jams. But the current Honda Civic Type-R FL5 is a different story. This is not just a fast hatchback, it's a real front-wheel drive sports car. The car is powered by a 2-liter VTEC Turbo engine with an impressive 329 horsepower. But the main thing is that the model is only available with a manual transmission with short, dry, and incredibly precise gearshifts. Apparently, this is the last such Honda Civic Type-R in history.

But who said that you can only get pleasure from driving on asphalt? There are enough enthusiasts in the world for whom the joy of driving begins where the quality road surface ends. Fortunately, there are still serial cars for such people. For example, the Suzuki Jimny. In a world where every new crossover tries to be like the Range Rover or the Nissan Qashqai, this model stands out with its square design.

But this small off-road vehicle with the aerodynamics of a brick proudly bears the flag of honest, uncompromising old-school style. Despite its size, the Jimny is a real frame off-road vehicle, and the word "crossover" can be considered an insult to it. The car is powered by a reliable atmospheric engine, with a rigidly connected front axle and a reduction gear. There are no electronic imitations and clutches that overheat on the first puddle: only hardcore, a ladder frame, and non-split axles. Unfortunately, the Jimny, like the Nissan Z, fell in the battle with the constantly tightening eco-norms in Europe and left the local market.

Jeep Wrangler

If the Suzuki Jimny is a pocket-sized, almost toy-like off-roader, then the Jeep Wrangler is heavy artillery. An American icon. Among the countless SUVs on the market, even the more "restrained" European version of the Wrangler looks like a dinosaur. The car is maximally brutal and at any moment is ready for a round-the-world trip.

Buyers are offered several versions, including the "charged" Rubicon 392 (although environmentalists are also tightening the screws here), but the essence of the machine is not at all in the acceleration figures. The Wrangler is bought for a unique experience that no other modern civilian car can provide: in a couple of minutes, you can drop the doors, fold back the windshield, fold down the soft top, and be left one on one with the wind. The frame design, Dana bridges, and aggressive off-road tires are designed to scoff at the lack of asphalt.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

The last two cars in today's rating are a hope that even after the transition to electric motors, there will be cars in the world whose sole purpose is to provide pleasure not only from straight-line acceleration (almost any EV can handle this). A bright representative of interesting and relatively affordable electric cars is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

The car has received the e-Shift function, which sharply "cuts" the torque and simulates the gear shifts of an 8-speed "robot". It is impossible to get such an experience on a regular electric car with "tram-like" traction. Add to this a synthesized roaring soundtrack that sounds like a angry turbo engine. Yes, it's a mock-up. But it at least brings the Ioniq 5 closer to interesting driver's cars.

Renault 5 Turbo 3E / Alpine A290

You've probably heard that Renault has made a reincarnation of the legendary 5 hatchback. As expected, it has been turned into an electric car. It's quite interesting even in stock form, but to ignite the hearts of people who miss the mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo, the French released a limited edition Renault 5 Turbo 3E. Just take a look at it.

Let's briefly go over the dry facts. The 5 Turbo 3E has two electric motors, one for each rear wheel, with a total output of 380 horsepower. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and features a drift mode. The body differs from the standard Renault 5 with extended wheel arches, and the interior has almost no modern screens. The 5 Turbo 3E made it into this article "through connections" - it can't be called affordable, with a price tag of over 150,000 euros (due to the limited production run). However, if you like this car, you might want to consider the much more affordable Alpine A290.

If we're looking at used cars, the options expand significantly. The list of models for enthusiasts now includes the Ford Focus ST and Renault Megane RS, as well as classic analogues like previous generations of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the wild MINI JCW, the rebellious Abarth 500, and the purebred mid-engine Porsche 718. Of course, you can also buy a new Porsche, but it's hard to call it affordable.

The photos show the cars in question, giving a glimpse into their design and features.