5th Annual Sexy Car Buyer's Guide by Steve Siler

There are cars, and then there are sports cars. There are the cars that take you from here to there, and then there are cars that take you places. Why look up at a dome light, when you can gaze at the moon?

In our book, it is the automobile that provides transportation, but it is the sports car that provides inspiration. Blissful is the moment, on a summer evening, that you start the engine, peel pack the top, shift into gear and accelerate into a balmy sunset, with your shades on and your hair licking the back of your neck. You just can’t do that in some staid sedan, or a purpose-built SUV.

Once a year, we assemble a set of loin-stirring rides—all convertibles, or at least cars that can be ordered as convertibles—that can make that romantic dream come true. These are cars that have looks, speed, and yes, sex appeal in droves. One of these cars, the Chevrolet Corvette (in Z06 form), even won our coveted Most Sex Appeal award for 2001, and by reading through the entries in this year’s Sexy Car Buyer’s Guide, you’ll see that the competition for that was fierce.

Each car in this collection of lust-mobiles makes us blurry-eyed, whether at speed or standing still, with the sheer romanticism of its purpose. And before you write all this off as nonsensical hyperbole, tell us—is your dream car not among them? We’ll bet it is.

Ford Thunderbird

The biggest innovation since the PT Cruiser has just hit the streets, and has made a big splash among our entries for this year’s sexy car buyer’s guide. Indeed, this is a hot contender for the 2002 Most Sex Appeal Award, if our judges all agree. Remember the last Thunderbird? Didn’t think so. If you do, then forget it. This is the car that the ol’ T-bird should have been all along, and indeed is a car that will change your perception of Ford Motor company altogether. Big claims, huh? Well, its credentials include the straight-line performance of a 252-horsepower V8. How about its sharing of the same heralded platform of the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type? And how could you ignore the evocative, sensuous styling inspired by of one of the most legendary cars of all time, the ’55 T-Bird. True T-Bird enthusiasts will cite some elements that recall some other years of the Thunderbird, to be sure, but one look at the complacent, relaxed gaze of the 2002 T-Bird will bring to mind the late ‘50’s T-Bird first, no doubt. Is this the Mona Lisa on wheels?

But to be retro does not necessarily mean being sexy, just look at the cute but decidedly unsexy Chrysler PT Cruiser for evidence of that. But the T-Bird is sexy, with its convertible bodystyle and requisitely sexy two-seat-only configuration (the last Thunderbird was a wheezy 5-seat coupe). This is a car that fills a niche we didn’t realize we had anymore: the sexy, relaxed couple car, the kind that keeps them in—or makes them fall in—love. Get the scoop on this retro wonder..

Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet

You don’t have to be an athlete to be sexy. You don’t have to be the best at any one thing or another. You just, well, you just gotta have it. Take the wonderful Mercedes-Benz CLK for example. Sure, there are faster cars in the world; there are bigger, badder and much more expensive cars, too. But this car has it. Enough to beat out all but 11 other cars for a coveted spot in our 2001 Sexy Car Buyer’s Guide. So what makes it so special?

Well, to say “everything” might be exaggerating, but not much. The CLK has it all, seriously, from engine to brakes to safety to comfort to, yes, sheer beauty. We like the V8-powered CLK430 best, in either coupe or convertible body styles, but we wouldn’t throw back a CLK320 with its entirely competent V6. The newly introduced CLK55 is over-the-top powerful, barely harnessing its 342 horsepower under the shapely hood that all CLKs share. But regardless of engine, the CLK lineup is spacious enough for four adults, appointed well enough to be called a luxury car and fast enough to get you there on time. And need we even comment on the stately timelessness of its instant-classic design? These are all reasons that there’s still a waiting list, four years into its production run. Now that’s sex appeal. ‘Nuf said. See for yourself why this car is so special...

BMW 3-Series Convertible

Introduced last year, but becoming a little common these days, are the BMW 3 series coupe and convertible. However, the new 3 is seriously sexy nonetheless, with simple, yet aggressive sheetmetal tightly wrapped over a four-place interior. With subtle curves and crisp, tailored character lines, you can’t look bad in this car. The actual model numbers have changed this year: the 323Ci has turned into the 325Ci, and the 328Ci is now the 330Ci, all reflecting accurate engine measurements. The 325Ci is just fine, with a bit more power added to its powerful 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine. The 330Ci is has a larger engine, understandably, and its 225 horsepower strikes the perfect balance of power and refinement—we have never heard anyone say that this car has too much, or too little power; it is quite nearly perfect.

Inside, the 3-series coupe and convertible share most everything except the back seat, which is smaller in the convertible (but not so small as to be a joke, a la the Jaguar XK8 or the Lexus SC430). The elegant dashboard curves toward and then away from the driver, with trim pieces rendered in either wood or aluminum. Either material looks great; it’s one of automobiledom’s best-looking interiors. Terrific seats, too.

Of note, the ultimate 3-Series has just been introduced, in both coupe and convertible bodystyles. Known as the M3, this car has made a name for itself over the years as a super high-performance Bahn-Blisterer. Its 333-horsepower are for the bravest among you (which of course, include us!). But expect to wait a while to get one, the list is long. The regular Three ain’t bad in the meantime. Let your hair down with the 3-Series Convertible.

Audi TT

One of the most notable vehicles in recent memory is the adorable, exciting and off-the-charts-sexy Audi TT. With mechanical styling recalling all kinds of things, from kitchen appliances to Bauhaus architecture to locomotives, the TT is nothing if not great to look at. And isn’t unignorable visual appeal one of the axioms of sexiness?

We could go on for pages explicating the compositional brilliance of the TT’s design, but what we really want to convey is the effect that it has on others. People stare as you drive by them, because its rounded corners make it look different from every angle. It’s deceptively small on the outside, but possesses unquestionable dignity about it. The TT, then, is a rolling collection of contradictions. You just can’t understand how it can be so small, so retro, yet so contemporary and so cool at the same time. The tidy dimensions contain a surprising amount of space inside. Only the low roofline (on both coupes and convertibles) feel confining. Offsetting that are the simply awesome design elements, including the way-hip baseball-glove stitching on the TT convertible’s seats, which marry form and function in ways we’ve never seen before. This is one great car.

The engine choices are nothing to sneeze at, with the base unit being a turbocharged four-cylinder making 180 horsepower. The twin-intercooled version of the same engine adds 45 more horses to the tally. Seem perfect? It’s close. And sexy? You bet.  Get revved up with the Audi TT...   

Porsche Boxster/Boxster S

It truly is marvelous when a car can be as sexy five years after it was introduced, as it was the first time you set your eyes on it. Such is the case with the evergreen Porsche Boxster. But then again, does Porsche know what it’s doing, or what? It’s only been in the sexy car business for 50-odd years….Well, here we are in 2001 and at no time has Porsche been sexier! Just look at the perfect proportions of the Boxster! Take time to appreciate those front fenders, led by bright, enthusiastic headlights, and tapering off into the narrowing midsection. Allow your eyes to move back to those lifting haunches, punctuated in front by a provocative air intake for the mid-mounted engine, and arrears by large, flowing taillights. All is brought together at the center of the back end by the exhaust pipe (or twin exhaust pipes, in the case of the Boxster S). What is this car made of? Pheromones?

Well, actually, it’s made of a complex arrangement of steel, aluminum, plastic and leather. But you probably don't care about the precise blend. All we really need to know is that its sexpot sheetmetal encapsulates two leather-covered seats, four big wheels and a slew of carefully tuned mechanical bits that will keep you more satisfied than a lifetime of Snickers. If you ever get the chance to own one of these cars, do it. For us. Show off with the Porsche Boxter/Boxter S...

Chevrolet Corvette

One vehicle that always has been and always will be in this buyer’s guide every year is the legendary Chevrolet Corvette. And this year, not only is it in its element, but it actually won this year’s Most Sex Appeal Award with the introduction of the Z06 model, a super-high-performance trim level that puts almost every other production car to shame in terms of sheer thrills. The perennial Corvette could, if it needed to, make it on looks alone, with its big, long hood, nearly flat windshield, in-your-face rump and steamroller tires. Fortunately, along with the ‘Vette’s monstrously powerful engine, all those things contribute to its blistering abilities as a true sports machine. But beware, this is not a car for the meek—it has a stiff clutch and can be a chore to get in and out of, especially when there is a skirt or high heels involved. But once you’re safely installed, you’ll enjoy an unexpected amount of luxury amenities, room and seat comfort. Cool “floating” gauges and a whompin’ sound system are similarly impressive. And that’s all before you start the engine. Once you step on the gas, it’s all over. You’ll be addicted—we are. And with Corvettes getting better and better every year, it looks as though we always will be. Ain’t America great? Let the Corvette turn you on...

  

Jaguar XK8

Sex sells. Any advertising agency would tell you that, probably in more detail than you’d care for. Jaguar could tell you that too, in terms you’d be more likely to identify with. After all, is there anything not completely sexy about a Jaguar? Voluptuous curves, elegant adornments, a slightly expectant, determined gaze…its like pornography on wheels—we should shield our children from these cars! Well, on the other hand, we should celebrate their existence; after all, just a decade ago they were on the brink of extinction, building pretty cars that fell apart but sold nonetheless on their sex appeal alone. Fortunately, Ford bailed Jaguar out, keeping the best of it, and fixing the rest of it.

This year sees welcome refinements to Jaguar’s flagship coupe and convertible XK8, in the form of some nice detailing in the fog- and taillight departments, as well as some humongous new standard wheels. If stock ain’t enough—and face it, if you can afford an XK8 in the first place, you can probably afford to upgrade—the mighty XKR is an XK8 with a supercharged engine, with enough power and torque to power the space shuttle. Is it necessary? No. But handy? Yes, to blow off the pesky trolls following your way-too-sexy-self around town. It’s tough being this beautiful. Get down and dirty with the Jaguar XK8...

  

Honda S2000

Honda? On this list? You’d better believe it. The sign that the automotive world is a beautiful thing indeed (that, or Armageddon is here) is that Honda, formerly exclusively the maker of bland plebian runabouts, is making one of the coolest cars on the planet: the S2000.

Likened by the uninformed to the Mazda Miata, the Honda S2000 is far superior to that car in almost every way, a superiority that also accounts for its $10,000 or so price premium. It is similar in space, yes, but is bigger on the outside, and much more interesting to look at. Pictures do not do this car justice, with its corner bevels and flat hood. Seeing and driving it does. Take, for example, the shifter. It is less than two inches from one “snick” to the next, and like the BMW Z3 and Porsche Boxster, it is wonderfully light and precise. The engine winds to a viscerally awesome 9,000 rpm, accompanied by a sound that simply must be heard to be believed (we were skeptical too, and then…whoa!).

Like most roadsters, the S2000 lacks real cargo space and interior storage, but I’ll shut up about that because this is a sports car, not a U-Haul, and should be regarded as such. It’s a sex machine, not a family hauler. So leave the kids and the cargo at home. Like you’ll have a choice… Explore the sleek details of the Honda S2000...

  

Plymouth Prowler 

Now, just why they called this car a Prowler is way beyond us, because to prowl suggests lurking quietly out of sight, stalking something unassuming in the middle of the night. And this car’s exhaust note is the exact opposite of quiet. Its wild bodywork, more at home on Woodward avenue than in the Serengeti, will do nothing to keep you out of sight. It simply screams to be looked at, rendering anyone around it into a stupefied awe. It’s color palette over the years has ranged from very-not-subtle to bright-as-day, with this year’s featured colors being Prowler Silver and retina-searing Prowler Orange, with a special Black-Tie Edition giving you a dressy black over silver color scheme. So what was that about “prowling?”

DaimlerChrysler’s corporate 3.5-liter V-6 somehow fits inside the narrow, V-shaped hood, and scoots it well enough, but not as fast as the huge 20-inch rear wheels and big exhaust tips suggest. Nothing by way of luggage fits into the trunk. The interior is way cool, with center-mounted, white-faced gauges turning lots of neat colors at night, which incidentally is the time of day that this boulevardier was made for. If you are the single shy type, and want a car that starts conversations for you, this is the one. Growl with the Plymouth Prowler...

Let’s talk design for a second. If you think it looks like Audi’s cute TT, then just think of it as a TT a couple sizes larger. If you think it looks like the Mercedes SLK, being that they share a few shapes, not to mention their standard retractable hardtop configurations, then also grow that one a bit. But this one has a unique sloping rear end, bulbous rear curvature and, believe me, it is much larger in person that it looks in pictures.

Beneath the shapely curves and sinewy forms lies the heart of the LS430 luxury sedan. And that is not a bad thing. The 300-horsepower 4.3-liter V8 has more power than any of us can use on a given sunny afternoon, unless we’re at Sears Point racetrack, that is. Its luxurious ride bests that even of the big Mercedes SL500 and the Jaguar XK8. Structural rigidity is superb, but then again, this is a Lexus.

And being a Lexus, the SC430 is adorned with every conceivable creature comfort, with the only options being a Navigation system, a tail spoiler and run-flat tires (which also allows you to delete the spare tire for more trunk space). Everything else, including the traffic-stopping design, is standard, all just in time for summer. You see, this one is big enough to real space between the passengers, have a back seat (okay, more of a shelf than a back seat). Cause a commotion with the SC430...

   

Fall in love with  the BMW Z3...

 

Mercedes-Benz SLK

It’s no secret that Mercedes-Benz has been turning us on for years, and this year is no exception. This marks the fifth year that the cute and sexy SLK (a car that some of us have aptly named, “SLicK”) has made it into our Sexy Car Buyer’s Guide. It now has matured into the kind of car that we’d be unabashedly proud to pull up to a date in, whereas at first we weren’t so sure that we liked the four-cylinder/automatic-only configuration and chintzy interior trim. But power enhancements and trim improvements have bode well for the beguiling little Benz, even in four-cylinder form, so now we have nothing but praise for it. Additionally, a six-speed manual is available for those of us so daring as to stir the gears ourselves.

But that does not a sexy car make. It is something about the whole package, and the whole package is something that even the modestly sized SLK has. Every conceivable creature comfort awaits the two lucky occupants of an SLK, including the hushed, secure, weather-tight luxury of a retractable hardtop, a feature shared only by the much more expensive Lexus SC430. We particularly like the beautiful wood trim on the dashboard of the powerful SLK320 V-6 models, although the aluminum trim on the supercharged four-cylinder SLK230 isn’t bad looking, either. And the price is right on that last one, too, starting as it does under $40K! The true power addicts among us will welcome the arrival of the SLK 32, a supercharged, insanely fast version of the SLK with a vision-blurring 349-horsepower. Ouch! Or is that, ooooh! How sexy! Make mine red!  Gasp at the SLicK moves of the Mercedes-Benz SLK...