The Consumer Guide to 2009 Premium Sporty/Performance Cars
by Ed Piotrowski
2009 Premium Sporty/Performance Car Lineup
Audi A5
Base Price Range: $40,700-$52,700
EPA MPG Range: 14-27
Body Style: 2-door coupe
A5 and S5 are premium coupes that do many things well. They have strong acceleration, capable handling, and the security of all-wheel drive. They're not as outright sporty as the two-seat Porsche Cayman, but they are more practical and undercut it on price, earning both A5 and S5 a Best Buy label.Audi TT
Base Price Range: $35,200-$47,500
EPA MPG Range: 17-31
Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
Audi TT is a luxury tourer that's closer to being a true sports car than the previous generation was, especially in TTS trim. While Porsche's Boxster and Cayman might ultimately be sportier, the TT's more civilized demeanor might be just the thing for more casual motoring. Available all-wheel drive is an added bonus. Note that prices rise quickly as equipment is added, so be judicious with option selection.BMW 1-Series 
Base Price Range: $29,400-$40,150
EPA MPG Range: 17-28
Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
What the 1-Series coupe and convertible give up in size to their larger 3-Series counterparts seems well worth the $5,000-$10,000 price differential--unless rear-seat passengers simply won't fit. Convertibles also adopt a less-expensive soft top in place of the 3-Series' folding hard top. Aside from that, BMW's entry-level cars deliver the marque's revered panache and dynamic properties with few other sacrifices, making them easy Recommended picks.BMW 6-Series
Base Price Range: $78,200-$107,900
EPA MPG Range: 11-23
Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
The 6-Series suffers from the usual coupe/convertible compromises, daunting prices, a ride that seems firmer than necessary, and BMW's confounding iDrive control. Still, any model is a luxurious driving treat: swift, supremely capable, and very refined. For the best experience, choose a 650i with the smooth automatic transmission, and don't opt for the Sport Package. If the M6 is more your speed, avoid the aggravating automated manual transmission.BMW Z4
Base Price Range: $45,750-$51,650
EPA MPG Range: 17-29
Body Styles: 2-door convertible
BMW's revamped Z4 is a reasonably practical daily driver convertible, and a capable two-seat sports car for enthusiasts. Sweet 6-cylinder engines, a classy interior, and a rewarding driving experience are among the compelling traits the Z4 boasts. These cars are pricey, so careful navigation of the options list will deliver the best value. Cadillac XLR
Base Price Range: $86,215-$104,215
EPA MPG Range: 14-24
Body Style: 2-door convertible
No 2009 Cadillac XLR models have been made available for Consumer Guide evaluation.Chevrolet Corvette
Base Price Range: $48,565-$103,970
EPA MPG Range: 14-26
Body Styles: 2-door hatchback, 2-door convertible
The Corvette is fast fun. These are reasonably practical sports cars that cost thousands less than rivals with similar performance, making them easy Best Buys. That also goes for the Z06 and ZR1 versions, which are among the fastest cars in the world. The ZR1's price premium over the Z06 seems quite stiff on its face. That's tempered by the fact that ZR1 offers performance on the level of other premium and exotic sports that cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars more.Dodge Viper
Base Price Range: $88,590-$89,340
EPA MPG Range: 13-22
Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
Explosive power and surprising handling prowess make Dodge's flagship vehicle a thrilling ride. Beyond that, though, Viper is an emotional statement that makes little sense as daily transportation. A Chevrolet Corvette or base Porsche 911 mimics its usable street performance at lower cost and with more refinement.Jaguar XK Series
Base Price Range: $77,000-$100,900
EPA MPG Range: 15-25
Body Styles: 2-door hatchback, 2-door convertible
An enticing blend of grown-up performance and sporty luxury makes XK a solid Recommended choice. XKR adds even more performance and sharper handling. Rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz SL and Cadillac XLR offer the security of a power metal retractable roof, but the XK convertible's fabric top is well insulated and consumes less cargo room when folded. Price-wise, Jaguar's base XKs slot attractively between comparable versions of the BMW 650i and the Mercedes SL550, while XKRs are significantly cheaper than an M6 or SL63.Lexus SC 430
Base Price: $66,805
EPA MPG Range: 16-23
Body Style: 2-door convertible
SC 430 is a posh, pleasant, semi-sport convertible with the extra security and convenience of a power metal roof, plus Lexus' highly rated customer service, workmanship, and reliability. Avoid the run-flat tires for the best blend of ride and handling. It isn't cheap, but some rivals with similar power and features cost even more.Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
Base Price Range: $48,100-$64,800
EPA MPG Range: 15-25
Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
No 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class models have been made available for Consumer Guide evaluation.Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Base Price Range: $98,500-$299,000
EPA MPG Range: 11-21
Body Style: 2-door convertible
It's hard to call a vehicle priced at or above $100,000 a good value, particularly one that can only accommodate two people. The SL-Class, though, makes as compelling a case as any. These convertibles are fresh looking, solidly built, impeccably finished, and a pleasure to drive.Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
Base Price Range: $45,950-$65,700
EPA MPG Range: 14-26
Body Style: 2-door convertible
It may not be the first nameplate mentioned when talk turns to sports cars, but the SLK has enough accessible everyday performance to hold its own in pretty fast company. Of broader appeal is its blend of open-air excitement, hardtop security, solid engineering, and Mercedes-Benz prestige.Nissan GT-R 
Base Price Range: $76,840-$79,090
EPA MPG Range: 16-21
Body Style: 2-door coupe
Simply put, a performance bargain. Quirkier than most rivals, the all-wheel-drive Nissan GT-R offers impressive acceleration, a comfortable and well-appointed interior, and decent luggage space. Especially for those who prefer an automatic transmission--and can accept one that isn't particularly well behaved--this is an exotic performance car that isn't priced like one.Porsche 911
Base Price Range: $76,300-$140,700
EPA MPG Range: 15-27
Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
Prices start high, and become stratospheric when costly options are added. Few cars, however, deliver the 911's thrilling balance of precision steering and handling with daily-driver livability.Porsche Boxster
Base Price Range: $46,600-$56,700
EPA MPG Range: NA
Body Style: 2-door convertible
No 2009 Porsche Boxster models have been made available for Consumer Guide evaluation.Porsche Cayman
Base Price Range: $50,300-$60,200
EPA MPG Range: NA
Body Style: 2-door coupe
No 2009 Porsche Cayman models have been made available for Consumer Guide evaluation.Volkswagen Eos
Base Price Range: $31,615-$35,200
EPA MPG Range: 22-31
Body Style: 2-door convertible
Eos' strengths are a comfortable ride, fine handling, and the choice of open-air driving or hardtop security. Its weaknesses include a tight rear seat and minimal cargo room. Overall, Eos bests its two main retractable-hardtop convertible competitors. It starts at around several thousand dollars less than the Volvo C70 but delivers comparable performance, and it's more solid and fun to drive than the similarly priced Pontiac G6 convertible.Volvo C70
Base Price: $39,800
EPA MPG Range: 18-27
Body Style: 2-door convertible
It's a step below most like-priced convertibles for all-around performance, but the C70 is a pleasant, stylish, well-built blend of top-down fun and fixed-roof security. A comfortable ride and decent trunk space add to its appeal.
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2009 Premium Sporty/Performance Car Lineup
