The Fast and the Frugal

Tradition says pure sports cars are equipped with “nothing that doesn’t make them go faster.” Long ago, that meant roll-up side windows and a heater were extravagances. Today, however, they are both sports car norms, along with power-folding convertible tops, power door locks and automated climate controls. Such amenities are now lightweight enough not to slow a car down and are considered indispensible in this fast-paced, luxury-minded world of ours.

Furthermore, some time ago, sporty coupes reached par with traditional two-seat sports cars in terms of performance while offering sedanlike practicality. Thus, a “sports car” today can be everything from a swoopy two-seat convertible to a boxy sedan look-alike that hides a powerful engine and road-gripping suspension under its family-friendly fenders.

With such diversity to choose from, fun-loving drivers can find themselves in a pleasant quandary when deciding what to buy. Should they opt for a dashing convertible when they could have just as much driving fun in a sports sedan that also offers a usable rear seat?

That decision is often compounded by the expensive, impractical nature of traditional two-seat sports cars. Their minimal seating and lack of storage space means the thoroughbred sports cars are tough to justify in single-car households. Such limited use excludes them as everyday cars for regular working folk. As a result, the sports car market often drifts very upscale — think Aston Martin or Porsche.

But the rich needn’t have all the fun. For $35,000 there are a handful of capable traditional sports cars and a wider selection of performance-oriented coupes and even sedans. We’ve gathered 10 of the best of these sub-$35,000 sportsters for your review.

Our criteria value convertible tops, sharp handling, strong performance and rear-wheel drive, but are not blind to other possibilities as long as the intent is grin-inducing driving. Enjoy!

For the Purist

For the heel-and-toe crowd, these traditional sports cars thrill with precise chassis, firm suspensions and no-excuses thrust. Storage is minuscule, the ground-hugging stance means athletic ingress and egress, plus you look up at truck axles. But fewer things in life are more responsive.

Honda S2000

At $35,000, the S2000 is right on our price bubble, but it is also the purest sports car here. Its wire-tight chassis and screaming, high-revving engine live for the thrill of the open road, but will commute if you insist. A bit compact inside, a snick-snick 6-speed manual transmission with a proper gearshift lever, contemporary instrumentation and Honda’s great detailing put paid to the term “cockpit.” It’s the pinnacle of approachable, drop-top sports cars.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Like the Honda S2000, the iconic Miata has been around for years — proof of its staying power. Aimed squarely at the affordable roadster market at $22,000 to $28,000, it’s within reach of the masses. Highlights are cheeky handling and moderate power combined with polite daily driving manners. It, too, is on the compact side, so the big and tall crowd won’t be comfortable here, and the trunk is tiny, but nicely engineered. Open-air fun has rarely been this affordable.

View Pictures:  More Fast and Frugal Sports Cars

Mazda RX-8

Those looking for something different gravitate to another Mazda sports car, the $26,435 RX-8. The weather-tight coupe has generous, secure storage by sports car standards, but its odd doors and cramped rear seat tip off its iconoclastic nature. Under the hood is a rev-crazy 232 horsepower Wankel engine giving the RX-8 a unique, high-strung personality and a thirsty — 18 mpg city, 22 mpg highway — habit at the pump. For some, however, the RX-8’s snappy power, balanced handling and tight bodywork are an irresistible draw.

Nissan 370Z Coupe

Nissan’s new kid on the block, the 370Z Coupe, lists for $29,930 to get started, but can reach to the $40,000s, so option-list restraint is required. Solid sports-car credentials come from a stiff chassis and 332 horsepower, but the 370Z is also expressively Japanese. Overt style cues such as the “can’t miss ’em” individually mounted instruments with oversize hoods, plus tech toys such as rev-matched downshifts, give the 370Z a youthful, almost geeky air.

Pontiac Solstice GXPSaturn Sky Redline

Two-seat Americans sports cars are normally rare — in fact, nearly nonexistent beyond the highly capable Corvette. The Pontiac Solstice and its Saturn Sky sibling buck the trend for about $30,000 in GXP and Redline form, respectively. Acceptable chassis give fun handling, but 260 turbocharged horsepower is the main attraction. Styling is overt, be it rounded on the Solstice GXP or edgy with the Sky Redline, and a coupe joins the roadsters this year. Storage is nearly nil, but curiously the turbocharged engine at 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway gets three more mpg than a standard Solstice. If you are considering one of these GM drop-tops, act fast — the automaker recently announced that its Pontiac brand will be discontinued next year, and it will not build any more Saturn vehicles after the 2009 model year.

Discuss:  Even though money is tight, would you consider buying one of these budget-priced sporty toys?