It was surprised yonks ago by Mario Kart 8Mario Kart 64 is unsurpassed. However as is, it's tough on the eye playing it on a modern wide screen TV. It looks like controllers for it are still being sold. (link).
The only one in the series I haven't properly played are the SNES and GBA ones, always found Mode7 driving strange. MK8 though... the only fault that game has is Nintendo really should have sold a new course every year. It's full of content but the gameplay is so perfect that all it needs is additional stuff.
Come to think of it that multiplayer battle mode was awful!