2008 sporty/performance cars
Look for the Mini Cooper Clubman this spring.

Consumer Guide's sporty/performance car class probably contains the most diverse variety of vehicles. While cars we put in this segment categorize driving fun as their primary goal, they go about reaching it in different ways. Some are performance hatchbacks, others drop their tops for open-air fun, and a few are muscular coupes.

This class also encompasses a wide range of prices, from about $15,000 all the way to more than $40,000. As a whole, these cars provide good performance at prices that won't break the bank. Some have front-wheel drive, others send power to the rear wheels. Most offer seating for four passengers, but oftentimes their rear compartments are generally hostile towards anyone who's not a toddler.

While sporty/performance cars are all about driving excitement at affordable prices, the 2008 model year is largely a snooze-fest in terms of changes from '07. Aside from a couple nip/tuck styling jobs and a bit more oomph under the hood, not a whole lot happened for 2008.

New for 2008 is the Mini Cooper Clubman, an extended version of the hatchback. It is expected to be about nine inches longer than the hatchback on a six-inch-longer wheelbase, have a third door on the passenger side, and rear "barn doors" instead of a hatchback. One other bit of news is the addition of the Volkswagen GTI to this class. VW's performance hatchback comes to the class by way of Consumer Guide's compact-car class. For 2008, Volkswagen revived the R32 hatchback, which further bolsters the GTI family's sporty credentials.

One thing to keep an eye on, though, will be the official introduction of the Dodge Challenger. A production-ready version of this modern muscle car is slated for launch at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. Rumor has it that Dodge will build about 5000 Challengers for model-year '08, all with Chrysler's 6.1-liter Hemi V8 engine and automatic transmission. For 2009, production will hit full capacity, with a smaller, 5.7-liter Hemi and available manual transmission. Check back with us for all the latest information.

Hot Hatchbacks

Hatchbacks make up the largest group of cars in Consumer Guide's sporty/performance class. They include the Hyundai Tiburon, Mini Cooper, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Nissan 350Z, Scion tC, and the Volkswagen GTI/R32 and New Beetle.

Sporty/Performance Car Facts
  • The Honda S2000 can rev like a motorcycle. Its redline is a sky-high 8000 rpm.
  • The Mazda RX-8 is the only new car sold in the United States that uses a rotary engine.

Their bodystyles and drive wheels may be similar, but that's about all they have in common among them. All except the 350Z and R32 are front-wheel drive sporty cars. The former is rear-wheel drive; the latter is all-wheel drive. Engine choices vary from the small 4-cylinder found in the Mini to the brawny V6 in the 350Z.

Speaking of the 350Z, it's the largest and most expensive car in this class. It's also among the most powerful, with a 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. During the 2007 model year, Nissan added an even sportier NISMO model to the mix. That version got lightweight alloy wheels, unique styling touches, and a throatier exhaust note. It's still available for '08.

As the newest member of the sporty/performance car family, Volkswagen's GTI deserves special mention. This hatch is one of the more practical vehicles in this group, offering two or four door bodystyles, accommodations for five adults, and a good amount of cargo room. Yet this hatch is still a blast to drive. The engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 200 horsepower. You can get a 6-speed manual transmission or Volkswagen's DSG 6-speed automatic. The automatic will let you change gears manually via the floor shifter or steering-wheel paddles. It's a bit on the pricey side, but it comes with lot of safety features including ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. GTI 4-doors are even available with rear side airbags, a feature more commonly found in luxury sedans.

If a regular GTI sounds too tame, the 2008 Volkswagen R32 might fit the bill. It has two doors, a 250-hp 3.2-liter V6, all-wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Better hurry if you want one of these, though, VW only plans to build about 5000 of them for the year.

The 2008 Scion tC got some minor exterior styling changes. This might be tC's final model year, as Scion-parent Toyota wants to keep the brand's product lineup fresh. Introduced as an early 2005 model, tC is Scion's oldest vehicle. We still like the tC a lot for its solid blend of versatility, refinement, and features at reasonable prices. As such, it continues as a Best Buy in the sporty/performance car class.

With the Volkswagen GTI having moved here, we give it our Recommended nod alongside the Mini Cooper and Nissan 350Z.

Dropping the Top

Sporty/performance convertibles are just as diverse a subgroup as the entire class. Want a small, two-passenger roadster? How about something with a V6 or V8 engine to really get the wind whipping through your hair? They're all here.

Small convertibles come in a few forms. Probably the most well-known is Mazda's MX-5, which is available with both a manual soft top or the all-weather security of a power-retractable hard top. Other two-seaters include the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky from General Motors. Honda's S2000 fits in this group with its high-revving 4-cylinder engine. For 2008, Honda added the S2000 CR, a lighter-weight model designed for those who like to spend their weekends at the racetrack. Nissan's 350Z also has a convertible variant.

Like the 350Z, other convertibles are companions to hardtop counterparts. The Mini Cooper and Volkswagen New Beetle fall into that category, as do the Ford Mustang and Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder.

A common issue associated with convertibles is the tendency for the body to flex and creak when going over bumps. The representatives in our sporty/performance car class all have very solid body structures that minimize this condition. The sharp handling of these cars affords them such solidity. For sporty droptops, we choose the MX-5 as a Best Buy. Ford Mustang, Mini Cooper, and Nissan 350Z are our Recommended choices. These are the same award winners from 2007.

Flying the Coupe

With more than 40 years of heritage under its belt, the Ford Mustang is a popular choice for its retro-flavored styling, high performance, and reasonable pricing. Enthusiasts will want one with a V8 engine. With either manual or automatic transmission, Ford says the 300-horsepower Mustang GT can go from 0-60 mph in about 5.2 seconds. Faster still is the Shelby GT500. Channeling the super-high-performance Shelby Mustangs of the late 1960s, the GT500 has 500 horsepower.

For 2008, Ford and Shelby have teamed up to launch the very-limited-production Shelby GT500KR. KR stands for "King of the Road," and this souped-up Shelby makes an awfully strong case with its 540-horsepower supercharged V8 engine. The KR is scheduled to hit showrooms in spring of 2008. Ford hasn't announced prices, but only 1000 of these models will see production. If you're lucky enough to find one, expect to pay significantly more than what the window sticker will say.

Should that not be your particular brand of java, V6 and GT Mustangs provide plenty of go for not that much dough. And you can get them as convertibles, too. The depth and breadth of Mustang's model lineup, plus its value pricing, and lots of get-up-and-go make them Consumer Guide Recommended picks.

We would be remiss not to give mention to Mazda's RX-8. This sporty car is a "four-door" coupe with two regular doors and a pair of rear-hinged back doors that don't open independently of the front. This design is similar to what Saturn used for its compact Ion coupes. RX-8 is also unique because of its Wankel rotary engine. Instead of the pistons and cylinders found in most gasoline engines, the Wankel rotary produces power via a triangular rotor that spins inside a housing. The design allows for high horsepower output from an engine that's small in displacement and physical size. The RX-8's rotary engine displaces only 1.3 liters, but its maximum output is 232 horsepower.

Decisions, Decisions

Being that the sporty/performance car class is so diverse, it's hard to say which is the "best" or "right" vehicle. It all depends on your interests, whether you want a coupe, hatchback, or convertible. Just be prepared for the compromises that come with buying this type of car. Limited passenger and cargo room, potentially heavy fuel thirst, and higher insurance premiums are among the factors you need to think about when shopping vehicles in this class. One thing is for certain, any one of the vehicles in this category will provide a heapin' helpin' of pure driving enjoyment--far more than what you'd find in a typical car, truck, or SUV.