[funnelsgun]

Most non-car folk synonymize performance with acceleration, when in fact acceleration is arguably less important than braking and cornering.

After all, what good is being able to go fast in a straight line if you can't brake or carry that speed through the corners?

[keldaris]

Exactly. And, with very few and very expensive exceptions, electric cars are useless at this. Electric cars have objective selling points, but I cringe every time I hear someone describe them as having "good performance".

[danans]

Most mid priced ICE cars are also terrible at performance. Comparing a Leaf to a performance car like a BMW or Audi is nonsensical. They are targeted at completely different market segments.

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Performance can also be relative, subjectively. My daily driver, a 2004 model 2.5L turbo diesel long wheelbase six-speed auto T5 Transporter, is at the workshop waiting to have a short length of wire that runs to the starter motor replaced. I'd do it myself, but talk about an inconveniently layed out engine bay. I digress. As far as vans go, it's fun to drive and has a bed in the back!

A friend loaned me her 1999 Vectra B[1] wagon, five-speed manual 2.2L 108 kW. Compared to the van, it corners like it's on rails! With myself behind the wheel of the Vectra I reckon I'd eat the E90 320i 115 kW[2] auto she replaced it with.

So, neither of these three vehicles are performance cars, but they're all quite fun to drive. Though I do toy with the idea of getting a Miata.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Vectra#Vectra_B_(1995–200...

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E90)#Petrol

[hansthehorse]

Thirty five million people live in Florida, where the roads were laid out using graph paper, yet they still buy, and pay good money for, sports cars where the focus is on handling. The best bang for the buck here is acceleration.