Front engine, front wheel drive cars are all about space efficiency and practicality to my thinking. This doesn't mean that they can't be fun to drive, I'm opposed to bland both in styling and the driving experience, but I don't see them as ideal platforms for performance cars.
My favorites include:
Honda CR-X Si ('88 - '91)
Honda Civic Si ('92 - '95)
Mazda MX-3 V6 ('92 - '98?)
Honda Civic Si ('04 - '05, especially the HFP version)
Mazda3 S hatchback/5-door ('04 - '08)

the new Ford Focus looks promising

Honorable mention:
VW Golf/Rabbit and Jetta Sportswagon TDi (held back by iffy reliability and support)
Acura TSX Sport Wagon (Acura needs an all new design language)

 

If you're talking about stock, unmodified cars that I have driven, it would have to be the Nissan 200SX SE.






Now, before everyone starts snickering, please allow me a chance to explain.

From a comfort and ergonomics standpoint alone, this car was awful. Hard plastics abound in the claustrophobic interior, poorly-shaped seats, and a steering wheel that was both too big and mounted too low. Riding over a road that was any less than perfectly smooth was equivalent to operating a jackhammer. And in freeway driving, the amount of wind and road noise was intrusive to the point where it makes the Fit seem like it has Lexus-like levels of sound isolation.

My wife liked her's (which was white) because it was "sporty looking" and "cute," and it certainly was/is both of those things. However, once you're able to overlook the flaws I named above and truly drive and appreciate this little coupe for what it is, it is actually quite an easy car to fall in love with.

The 200SX SE - which I drove in its 1997 USDM form - was the epitome of Nissan in its true glory days. Here was the first car that I had driven - and the last until I got my Fit - that was truly "fun and frugal" all at the same time.

The SE had a 1.6L DOHC I4 that put out 115hp. Doesn't sound like much, but consider that this car weighs only 2330 pounds...that's 159 lbs lighter than the lightest GE Fit. If we're talking the volume-selling Fit Sport, the 200SX SE was anywhere from 190-285 lbs lighter (depending upon tranny and Satnav option of the Fit Sport variant you're talking about).

That meant that even though you weren't going to drag race anyone in this thing, it provided more than enough pep in stock form. Acceleration was direct and linear, and the transmission shifted smartly - even in the autobox version that my wife had. But the best thing was the steering and handling. The car was extraordinarily communicative, having great road feel, and the steering weights up beautifully in corners. In the hands of the right driver, this car could make any winding back road its bitch.

All this in a package that got nearly 40mpg highway (37 to be exact).

That, my fellow Freaks, is why the Nissan 200SX SE is my favorite FF car.

To this day, I still can't forgive my wife for trading this in when she got her Civic coupe last year, and I don't think I ever will.

 

Those 90's two door nissan economy cars had a lot more going for them than people gave credit. My dad had a B-13 two door sentra that was kinda lame when i was a kid but now looking back was kinda cool. Gotta love cars that don't have any electronic interface that get between you and the road.

 

My favorite FF car = My 99 Integra