This class features an interesting mix of hard-core performance models and more luxurious touring convertibles. Our Best Buys give you a little of both worlds. Chevrolet Corvette is fast, comfortable, and reasonably affordable, but it doesn't beat you up with a hard ride, and it will cruise quietly at highway speeds. Our other Best Buy, Mazda Miata, is a bare-bones roadster with few frills at a great price. For weekend fun on a twisty back road, it's hard to beat.

A Recommended selection, Honda S2000 offers up all the performance and thrills of a traditional sports car without the intimidating price tag. Audi's TT is solid, stylish, and loaded with features making it fit for the Recommended list as well. Like no other in its class, TT offers the all-weather advantage of available quattro AWD at a great price. New this year is the Nissan 350Z. It offers heart-stopping performance and civility at a very reasonable price. After additional tests we may well move this vehicle to a Best Buy.

NSX sales remain trifling by normal standards, but the 2002-model updating was a likely factor in a healthy 28-percent increase over calendar '01--all the way to 233 units. Despite such tiny numbers, NSX is the image leader and technical flagship for Honda's premium brand, and Acura is still committed to it. But don't look for major changes anytime soon. A full redesign, perhaps with V8 power, has been rumored for years, but it's still evidently not a done deal.