The Polaris Slingshot is an autocycle. It’s not quite a car and not quite a motorcycle. This three-wheeled vehicle lives in a gray area. It also lives in a segment hampered by its very design. The three-wheeler will never be as good as a four-wheel machine, and it’s not as wildly thrilling as two-wheeled vehicles. Does that mean it’s no fun? Not at all.

I’ll say this, though, that the Polaris Slingshot is not for me. Were I ever to go with a three-wheeled vehicle, I’m eyeing up the Morgan. Still, I did have some fun with the Slingshot once I learned to stop giving a crap. Who cares what you look like driving one because at your beck and call is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes either 178 or 203 hp (depending on the model), revs to 8,500, and only has to push around a vehicle that weighs 1,700 pounds.

Once you pair that setup with the nicely calibrated manual gearbox and a 255-wide tire out back, you have a recipe for some vehicular shenanigans. It will do burnouts on command. Every kid you see will stare at it with wide eyes, and every person older than you wants to know more about it. It appeals to kids and senior-age kids alike. So any vehicle that puts a smile on the faces of folks as you ramble on past, has to be something worth enjoying.

The Polaris Slingshot is a fun toy that’s put together far better than I expected. The center screen pairs with your phone quickly, displays a navigation system, and allows you to play music through the Rockford Fosgate sound system. Those two seats? They’re heated and cooled and actually comfortable. The overall experience of driving one of these is oddly entertaining. Still, there are other vehicles in the 20-30k dollar range that offer as much or more fun, be they used Miatas or brand-new motorcycles.

People who buy these seem to really love them. So that makes me happy it exists. The roadways are a far more interesting place with vehicles that stand out and make folks smile.