Porsche 911 Carrera
Every auto enthusiast dreams of owning a sports car one day. These sexy, sultry machines inspire drivers and excite the senses. Unfortunately, they typically aren't very practical and, thus, are considered a luxury, a fact that has hurt the category's sales over the past few financially troubled years. Today's cash-strapped consumers are more focused on cars for work and family than on autos that can sprint from zero to 60 mph in the blink of an eye. Even so, people still love to dream, and when they dream about cars, they put a premium on hot looks and performance.
Not surprisingly, our latest list of the 10 most researched sports cars on MSN Autos shows that buyers are looking for the most bang for their buck when it comes to the fast and furious. MSN Autos readers clicked again and again on three all-American models known for delivering style and speed at relatively low monthly payments: the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger. Practicality aside, you also found time to search a few six-figure beauties as well. From teenage dreams to a banker's reality, here are your choices for the top 10 sports cars featured on MSN Autos.
1. Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
Since 1965, the Mustang has charmed more than 9 million buyers, including men and women who otherwise would never have considered a performance car. And 2011 is a momentous Mustang year. Coupe or convertible, a newly refined interior and notable handling upgrades are joined by a sweet pair of engines. Starting at $22,995, the base Mustang has a V6 engine that combines 304 horsepower with an EPA-rated 31 mpg highway. Sparking high-school flashbacks, a modernized Ford 5-liter V8 drops 412 horsepower into the Mustang GT. For high rollers, a supercharged Shelby GT500 corrals 550 supercharged horses. And next year marks the return of the Boss 302, with eye-catching body work, a track-tuned suspension and 440 horsepower.
View Pictures: Muscle Cars Picture Gallery
2. Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevy or Ford? Camaro or Mustang? Thanks to the reborn Camaro, the old pony-car brawl is on again. We've found the 2011 Mustang to be the slightly better all-around performer, but the Camaro holds its own. With its Hollywood-honed looks, the Camaro definitely turns more heads than the familiar Ford. The drawback to that chopped-roof style is especially poor visibility. But the view may not matter when you're dusting off cars with either the V6 or V8 models, the latter featuring a 426-horsepower Corvette V8. And the Camaro's brakes are flat-out brilliant. Next summer brings the long-delayed Camaro convertible, giving Chevy a rival for the ragtop Mustang — and no more excuses for either side in the sales battle for America's most popular pony car.
Read: The New Generation of Muscle
3. Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
It's a cliché only because it's true: Coupe or convertible, the Corvette continues to be the best sports-car value at its relative price. The 430-horsepower V8 coupe starts at less than $49,000. For less than $75,000, the 505-horsepower Z06 is a lightweight, hard-core demon on the street or track. And for $110,000, the ZR1 will make most Ferraris or Porsches quiver with its 638 supercharged horses and a top speed of more than 200 mph. But in our opinion, the Grand Sport is the biggie: For about $5,800 more than the basic coupe or convertible, it delivers a lot of the Z06's goodies — the zesty wide-hipped body, incredible brakes and track-ready wheels and tires — but is priced more within reach.
View Slideshow: Cut-Rate Muscle
4. Dodge Challenger
Dodge Challenger SRT8
The Dodge Challenger has been somewhat dissed of late, thanks to the Camaro and Mustang. But while the Dodge is the 2-ton Clydesdale of Detroit's pony-car herd, there's still plenty to like, beginning with that inimitable Mopar, '70s-cop-show styling. We recommend skipping the power-shriveled V6 model and heading straight for the Challenger R/T, the lowest-priced model with a genuine HEMI V8 engine. For barely 30 grand, that 340-horsepower R/T is a tire-chirping hoot on the street, with the perks of a comfortable ride, surprising high-speed stability and the most comfortable back seat of the Detroit trio.
5. Audi R8
Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro
When Audi first hinted at an exotic sports car to challenge Porsche and Ferrari, the eye-rolling began. Now eyes pop when the R8 rolls by. The R8 is the German-supermodel cousin to the Lamborghini Gallardo. The cars share an aluminum midengine chassis, Audi's terrific all-wheel drive and the MMI driver interface — and, in the case of the R8 5.2, a thundering V10 engine. Honestly, while the original 425-horsepower V8 version was terrific, if you can actually afford to drop $130,000, there's little reason to not kick in $155,000 for the V10 model, whose 525 horsepower elevates the R8 to where it wanted to be all along. This fall, an R8 Spyder 5.2 convertible will test how many people will spend even more to muss their hair at autobahn speeds.
Compare: Audi R8 vs. Lamborghini Gallardo vs. Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
