Fun cars
You don't need to be going fast to have a lot of fun--but it
doesn't hurt.
Porsche's new Boxster may not soar, but neither does it bore.
Can a $50,000 car&emdash;made by GM no less&emdash;compete with an
airplane?
Don't get me wrong, I love the M3, but at this price?
The Dodge Viper GTS is the ultimate power tool.
Buying a Miata nets you a whole lot more than a great car--you get
to participate in one of the car world's richest subcultures.
Luxury cars
Much as I love going fast, traffic conditions really have tipped
my mental scale in favor of comfortable interiors and great sound
systems. But I still value an involving driving experience.
Just what it needed&emdash;more chrome.
Land Rover's 50th-anniversary models are too good to keep on the
road.
If a thing of beauty is a joy forever, this is the sedan I want to
ride off into the sunset in.
Family haulers
Despite all of the inroads that vans and sport-utes are making on
sedans, they're still the dominant force in the car market. Thank God
for that, because there are some excellent four-doors out there, and
all of them are more fun to drive than Tall Stuff.
Accord Six is bigger in every way, better in most. But it's still
as conservatively styled as ever.
The new, uglier, Altima does a surprisingly convincing imitation
of a luxury car.
The gods live in the details in this utterly conservative, but
utterly enticing four-door. Think of it as an Audi A4 for ten
thousand dollars less.
This remarkably usable tall car is full of great ideas and
un-Honda like ergonomic oversights.
$15-19,000 compact cars
Over the next couple of months, I'll be reviewing a series of cars
in the $15-19,000 (Canadian) range; after I tire myself, I'll
probably do a wrap-up of the entire class.
Though it's conservatively styled, the Mazda Protege's refinement
and thoughtful interior quickly grow on you.
Canada-only model, listing at just $300 over Civic EX-G is a
surprisingly good value
Can thousands of driving-school instructors be wrong?
Who knows why our market has so abandoned
hatchbacks&emdash;despite its tacky interior, this VW is a practical
gem.
Dimples, dimples everywhere on a car that could teach the Japanese
a thing or two about design and build quality.
The plastic car works better than expected, but you're still
buying a great experience more than you're buying a great car.
There's a lot of fun underneath this car's generic dumpling shape.
Cheap, fun, and remarkably versatile, this wagon pushes more hot
buttons than I ever expected it to.
There's a good reason that this thing has been the bestselling car
in Canada for eight years straight.
OK, so the Impreza I drove was the $26,000 2.5 RS version. But in
any guise, this all-wheel drive compact is head and shoulders above
everything in its class when foul weather comes along.
The Escort's round little package packs a lot of driving fun, and
a thoughtfully designed interior.
Sure, it's a Golf underneath, but no Golf ever inspired so many
giggles. It's like having your own automotive ambassador of goodwill.