Best in class: Coupes
$36,000 to $75,000
By Terry
Jackson • Bankrate.com
These cars are the icons for people who love cars.
They are the vehicles we covet when we are young and hope one day
to make enough money to own. They are among the
best available and contain few compromises.
Chevrolet Corvette
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Chevrolet Corvette:
Until the 2005 model year, there had been only five all-new Corvettes
in the car's 51-year history. No other American car has remained as
true to its roots as the Corvette. So when an all-new Corvette appears,
it's an automotive landmark. To get the full story on the new Corvette
as one of Bankrate.com's
10 to Watch for 2005, read our full review. Until then, know that
if you are shopping for a coupe in this price range it's hard to beat
the 2005 Corvette for performance, style and value. A 2005 Vette will
run with exotic vehicles like the Ferrari 360, yet for the price of
the Italian candy a buyer could have three Corvettes and a bagful
of dollar bills left over. Prices for the Corvette start at $45,000.
Mercedes-Benz SLK
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Mercedes-Benz SLK:
At long last Mercedes has stepped up and made the SLK into a sports
car worthy of the three-pointed star. The first model, introduced
in 1998, was more of a poseur than a contender. It was underpowered
and, despite a retractable hardtop, was hardly cutting edge. For
2005, the SLK gets rakish new styling that links it to the flagship
SL models. The interior was revamped and now looks like it belongs
in a car that costs more than $45,000. But what brings it together
is the new 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 under the hood. It powers
the two-seater to 60 mph in about 5.6 seconds. Buyers can choose
from a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed -- yes, seven
speed -- automatic gearbox.
BMW 6 Series
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BMW 6 Series:
The last time BMW had a high-end coupe in the stable was 1997
when it withdrew the slow-selling 8 Series coupe. Now BMW has
brought back the coupe with the 6 Series, available in coupe and
convertible form. Based on the wonderful 5 Series platform, the
645Ci has a lot of features, ranging from the same 325-horsepower
4.4-liter V8 found in the 7 Series sedan. There are three transmission
choices: a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic, and a clutchless
six-speed sequential manual transmission. As expected, there's
a boatload of luxury touches on board, as well as the much-maligned
iDrive controller for many of the car's functions. The backseat
is primarily there for looks, but the 645Ci is perfect for two.
At a base price of more than $71,000, however, it's strictly for
the very well-heeled.
-- Posted: Feb. 15, 2005
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