Sport coupe works a lot better. Live axle, can’t handle, heavy. Sports cars - - Miata, s2k, z3, z4, mcoupe, corvette, exige, nsx, solstice, sky the list goes on.
Lots of rwd cars are not sporty. Lots of economy cars have manuals. The amount of cylinders is irrelevant. 2+2 seating is the most I ever want to see in a sports car.
A car could have all those things and still not be a sports car.
It’s the way all those things are put together that makes a sports car. It’s all about the intent. A mustang is a muscle car or cruiser or drag car or something but it’s not a sports car. Cobras are though.
No one should EVER call a mustang a sports car. I think mustangs are at the same time enormously underrated AND overrated. From the factory they are muscle/pony cars and tons of people take them for something they aren’t. Plus we all know the dude bros who act like their GT is the hottest shit ever. And people who don’t like them think they can’t do anything but heaters.
They are like a work in progress from the factory. They have an amazing aftermarket that can inexpensively make them perform in any way, and often better than the more expensive stock competition.
However, ride quality is the one area a mustang will never rule.