Your exactly right on this. My first car was a '90 Geo Tracker (cheep forgin knockoff of a jeep). The thing had like 80 hp but it was a blast to drive. It probably helped that it was a manual gearbox and rear wheel drive (and 4x4 : ). It probably also helped that there was about 5 feet between the (front and rear) wheels. The thing drove like a go-kart.

I still miss that car....

Would have kept it but no AC. It's just too hot down here in florida. Still, drove it for a good 4 years or so.