QT Sport
In decades gone by, open-top two-seaters such as the MG Midget gave drivers big thrills at small prices. These days, only Smart is staying close to that recipe - but even so, its Roadster still costs £12,000.
We love the idea of the QT Sport; its concept of fun on a budget makes a lot of sense. Yet while it's great to drive and turns heads, the car is let down by a lack of power, a very basic interior and an absence of safety kit. It also seems expensive. However, urban drivers who want a unique and entertaining runaround should take a look.
In decades gone by, open-top two-seaters such as the MG Midget gave drivers big thrills at small prices. These days, only Smart is staying close to that recipe - but even so, its Roadster still costs £12,000.
So how does £7,995 sound for a sporty runabout? Meet the QT Sport, a French sports car that's available in the UK via TV celebrity Noel Edmonds' firm, the Unique Motor Company. His goal is to offer fun motoring to drivers who haven't got a fortune to spend.
Buy one, and you'll certainly stand out. With a blend of dune buggy and Austin Healey Sprite looks, plus a length 10cm shorter than the Smart ForTwo, there's nothing like it on the road.
Under the plastic body is a steel chassis with double wishbone front suspension, while the five-speed manual gearbox, disc brakes and instruments are all borrowed from Peugeot's 307. As with a Porsche 911, the QT Sport is rear engined and rear-wheel drive, but don't expect similar performance.
With a tiny 21bhp twin-cylinder unit, the 0-60mph sprint takes an age. No official figures have been recorded, but we would predict 15-20 seconds, with the QT running out of puff at 75mph. Still, the two-seater returns 60mpg and insurance should be cheap, as Unique can arrange special cover.
Driving the QT Sport is certainly an experience. The sharp clutch and offset pedals mounted in the centre of the footwell make smooth progress tricky, but once you're on the road, two things strike you: the engine is loud and other traffic seems huge. Yet sitting inches above the tarmac, and with direct steering, the two-seater is great fun to drive. A-roads and motorways are virtual no-go areas because of the lack of power, but the tight turning circle makes the QT perfect for use around town.
With no airbags and zero luggage space, the Sport offers motoring that will be too basic for most. And we can't help thinking it would be more desirable if it was priced at around £5,000.
