Communicative and chuckable... then a 1.4 MG ZR would be a reasonable call (I await being shot down for mentioning these yet again). Don't think they should be too much of a hit insurance wise, mine never were... but But they change direction rapidly and with 105 ponies are reasonably zippy.
They are a good car to learn how to feel the limits of traction... Seemingly our resident race preparer (Mr Bentley) must think so, given the race-prepped ZR he has.