Racetracks provide a sort of theoretical test of handling. Each turn is practiced to perfection, and every inch of the road can be used without fear of oncoming traffic, which means that track operation is pretty much irrelevant to what happens on the street. But track operation also cuts through all the excuses. There is no way a car can hide its handling quirks. If it's ornery at the limit, you find out immediately.
Only a few years ago, there wasn't a production car alive that would acquit itself with honor on a racetrack; they would all fall to their knees when pushed. What's remarkable about this test is that four of the contestants behaved with true poise at the limit. The high marks go to the Prelude, the Supra, the Quattro, and the 944.
The idea that Japan can't build good-handling cars is hereby put to rest. The Supra also earned a berth in the "poised" group, with a mild understeering tendency that it maintains over a broad range of operation. It's calm and stable, almost relaxing to drive hard. No bad habits wait to trip you up. Only a pedal placement that prevents heel-and-toeing keeps this car from showing its best at the track.
Where is the 1984 BMW 318i? It probably can our corner most of these cars. BMW
So, every Porsche model?
You lost me on imported!