[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, when I say a car "handles well", I mean that the car goes where I expect it to go ..... and when it doesn't, it responds predictably to my inputs.

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Drive some cars that handle poorly, that have large amounts of body roll, unpredictable response to your inputs, vague steering and braking and unresponsive throttle, truly excessive under/oversteer. It's very easy to forget how much can go wrong when you drive this car everyday and it gets so much of it right. Poor handling cars leave you uninspired, take your confidence away, good handling cars give you confidence to push and explore the limits of grip, there's a ton of small factors listed above that can be debated endlessly but all that's important is that the 86 ties it into a neat little bow for most people.

Originally Posted by kch

For me, it means consistency, dependability, and predictability. It inspires confidence because it goes where I tell it to, every time. It gives me enough feedback that I can understand what the wheels are doing under me. And when it breaks free, it does so in a controlled, predictable manner.

All of the above.
I have nothing to add.