2012 sports cars

The 2011 Sports Car Buying Guide connects people with a passion for driving with some of the most entertaining rides on the road.

These are cars designed from the get-go as sporting machines. They’re not sporty versions of mainstream cars. The latter include such admitted driving delights as the Volkswagen GTI and BMW M3, but we treat them as models within their model lineups. In these examples, the GTI is covered with the VW Golf lineup in the 2011 Compact Car Buying Guide and the M3 is treated as part of the BMW 3-Series line in the 2011 Premium Car Buying Guide.

Simply put, sports cars are racy-looking coupes or convertibles with acceleration and handling above those of average cars, qualities that spell “fun to drive.” Some are among the most technologically sophisticated cars on the road, with high-output engines, high-performance suspension components, special low-profile tires, and an exhaust system that maximizes horsepower and produces a throaty sound.

Some have a peppy four-cylinder engine sufficient to move a small, lightweight model with authority. Others pack a V-6 or even a brutish V-8. Some throw in turbocharging or supercharging to wring added horsepower out of an engine without a pronounced penalty in fuel economy. The range is extreme -- from the 180-horsepower four-cylinder Scion tC to the 638-horsepower supercharged V-8 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

While automatic transmissions are the norm in other automotive categories, a significant percentage of sports-car drivers prefer manual transmissions. These five- and six-speed gearboxes can make driving more fun and provide a better sense of vehicle control. For those who prefer not to work a clutch pedal, many sports cars offer the latest in conventional automatic transmissions that can approximate manual control via shift paddles on the steering wheel. Still others boast the new breed of dual-clutch transmission. These are actually manual transmissions without clutch pedals. They can be set to shift like an automatic or be moved through the gears via steering-wheel paddles or the floor lever. In manual shifting, these dual-clutch transmissions change gears quicker than a driver could, though purists insist they don’t offer quite the same sense of interaction as a conventional manual gearbox.

With the exception of the front-wheel-drive Scion tC and Mitsubishi Eclipse, all the cars in the 2011 Sports Car Buying Guide put their power to the pavement in the classic way -- via the rear wheels. Enthusiasts have long preferred rear-wheel-drive for its superior handling ability. Rear-drive cars are less nose-heavy than front-drive cars and don’t require the front tires to both steer and transmit power to the road. Neither do they suffer “torque steer” in which powerful front-drive vehicles pull to the side during rapid acceleration from low speeds.

Rear-drive cars, especially powerful ones, can suffer their own handling quirks; they may fishtail in turns taken too fast, for example. But today’s advanced chassis control systems and advanced tire technology enable automakers to offer sporty rear-drive cars with driving attributes that both enthusiasts and casual motorists can appreciate.

For the ultimate in grip, there’s all-wheel drive (AWD). Among the 2011 models in this guide, AWD is optional on the Audi TT and Porsche 911 and standard on the Nissan GT-R. In these applications, AWD is considered an adjunct to dry-road handling. It offers some advantage on slippery pavement but AWD sports cars are far from being SUVs in terms of traction in snow or mud.

Unfortunately, a sports car’s added performance has its downside. Compared to more everyday transportation they exhibit a rougher ride due to firmer suspension and stiff-sidewall, low-profile tires necessary to maximize handling. The highest-performance sports cars can in fact be fairly punishing over rough or uneven surfaces. These suspensions and tires also contribute to elevated levels of road noise. And performance-tread tires can suffer accelerated wear; some sports cars can go through a set of tires in as little as 20,000 miles. And if you live where it snows you’ll be wise to own two sets of tires -- performance-oriented rubber for the dry months, all-season or winter tires for the wet months.

This isn’t to say sports cars are all suffering. Most offer all the amenities, from heated leather seats to GPS navigation, premium audio with iPod and Bluetooth interfaces, power sunroofs, and much more. A few convertible sports cars, like the Mazda MX-5 and Mercedes-Benz SLK, feature a power-retractable metal roof instead of the traditional cloth top. This combines the security and protection from the elements of a fixed-roof car with the full open-air experience of a convertible.

While sports-car sticker prices can breach $100,000, our focus here is on models priced within reach of a relatively broad audience. This excludes low-production exotics like Ferrari and Lamborghini, but allows us to include Porsche’s sports cars. The least-expensive model in the 2011 Sports Car Buying Guide is the Scion tC, which lists for under $18,000. But the sports-car cost of ownership can carry hidden expenses.

Fuel economy can suffer when high horsepower is unreined, and maintenance and repair costs may be higher. These typically are the most expensive vehicles to insure, especially if you’re a younger male, live in a congested city, or have a blemished driving record. Check with your insurance agent before buying a sports car; if you’re considered a high risk, premiums could be staggering. One of the reasons sports cars are costly to insure is that their fatality rates are among the highest of all vehicle types.

This is not to say they’re inherently unsafe. Today’s sports cars are engineered to protect occupants in a crash and include a full range of safety features. These include side-impact and head-protecting side-curtain airbags, antilock brakes, and sophisticated antiskid stability control systems that can help prevent spinning out in emergency handling maneuvers or in a corner taken too quickly.

With power and performance comes responsibility – and also the opportunity to indulge a passion for driving.
2011 Lotus Sports Cars
2011 Sports Cars concept
2011 Sports Cars

The 20 sports cars we profile here include genuine two-seat sports cars, such as the Porsche Boxster. They included sport coupes with small backseats, such as the Scion tC. They include larger two-door models named for the original Ford Mustang and known as the Pony Car; these are today’s Mustang, the Dodge Challenger, and the Chevrolet Camaro. And they include the Mini Cooper line of two- and three-door hatchbacks; the latter is the Mini Cooper Clubman with a rear half-door on the passenger side to help rear-seat ingress and egress.