I'm seeing a lot of great choices.

My list:

(The first five are my realistic choices, as in cars I could someday afford without winning the Lottery. The last 5 are my dream cars that would live in the heated garage attached to my mansion.)

Cars I might own in my lifetime:

1. 2011 Lotus Exige S260 Final Edition. ($67,500)



This is my #1 overall in both categories. The base model Elise was a beautiful masterwork of Britain Roadsters. It was small, lightweight, and insanely agile. The term "Nothing handles like a lotus" was never more true when this car was unleashed upon the world. The Exige is the Elise's evil twin. Anything unessential to driving was removed. No radio, no AC, no door panels. Just an engine, a chassis, two seats, and a steering wheel. The already more than enough all-aluminium 189 horsepower (141 kW) 1.8L DOHC Toyota ZZ engine was tuned to perfection and given a Supercharger and intercooler, upping it output to 275HP.

Now 275HP doesn't sound like much, but when it is pushing a car that only weighs 1,650 lb (750 kg) you are screaming down the road, with an impressive 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds, and an electronically limited top speed of 160 MPH.

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2. 2013 Dodge Dart (~ $18,000 - $20,000)



I love Neons. Not everyone liked the style of the american made eco car, and I didn't really at first. But, when my parents bought one when I was a teenager, I fell in love driving it. So much so, that I went and bought my own a few years later. I owned a 1999 Neon R/T, and that car was my baby. I spoiled that car more than any girlfriend I had up to that point. 10+ years later, my own family needed a car big enough for the 4 of us, but something good on gas. So I went back to a Neon, and currently own a 2nd Gen 2001 Dodge Neon. And, it handles the road even more gracefully then my 1st Gen R/T did. It's a great car. Unfortunately, 2005 saw the Neon line bow out, in favor of the Caliber. Which was larger, boxier, and more fit the hatchback/crossover style of the late 00's. It was a great vehicular for hauling grocery and kids to soccer games, but just wasn't that fun to drive. Even the beefed up SRT4 model wasn't fun to drive. They gave it great specs, but the body and design just wasn't cut out for sport.

Just the other day Dodge revealed the new 2013 Dart. The moment I saw this car, I said to myself. "My god... That's the 3rd Gen Neon!" Everything about it is that evolution of what the Neon started. Small yet stylish. And, built for those who enjoy driving, but can't afford the more costly European sedans.

The 2013 Dart brings a multitude of choices to the table when it comes to features and power. Power comes from one of three engines: The base unit get 160 horsepower from 2.0-liters. Dodge will offer as options a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine also good for 160 horsepower, and a 2.4-liter engine good for 184 horsepower. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic, and with the turbo engine, a six-speed dual-clutch transmission using the Fiat developed technology.

Speaking of technology, A variety of technology and luxury gizmos include an 8.4-inch UConnect Touch Media Center with voice recognition, an Alpine audio system, a full-color seven-inch customizable TFT instrument cluster, keyless entry and start, and a heated steering wheel.

Once it is given to the hands of reviewers, that will tell if this is the next step in the return of Dodge glory, or yet another hiccup in Chrysler's shaky rebuilding.

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3. 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500



This car eats small children. It is not nice. It is big. It is mean. It is built for only one thing: Power.

650 HP. 600 lb-ft of torque. Over 200 mph top speed. With specs like these, I don't need a long winded explanation. This is the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500. Be afraid.

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4. 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392



Dodge's answer to the Shelby tweaked Ford Pony. This year the top of the line SRT-8 gets a monstrous 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine producing 470 HP and 470 lb-ft of torque, yet still managing to squeeze a decent 23 MPG. That, and being a beautiful throwback to its original namesake doesn't hurt it either.

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5. 2005 Dodge SRT 4.



The last hurrah of the Neon. The original 2003 SRT4 was a secret project because the madmen who designed it knew the higher ups would never approve its creation. So they built this beast in the shadows and rolled it out to the big wigs only when it was done.

I mean think about it. They took their cheapest, entry model economy car from their Dodge lineup and turned it into the 2nd fastest, and 2nd best performing car in the entire Chrysler family. (Only the Dodge Viper could out perform it.)

Not only that, but in a weird twist, they actually underplayed the car to the public. Manufacturer's specification when the SRT-4 was released was 230 hp. However, several independent tests have produced results indicating that the SRT-4 produces more power than the manufacturer claims. The estimated flywheel power is to be around 265 hp.

Not only did they build this beast as a middle finger to the performance compacts from across the sea such as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO and Subaru WRX, but they also underpriced it! Original MSRP: $19,999. 7 years later and they still go for about 50%-60% of their original value. That's a testament to how awesome this beast was. I only hope to see a Dart SRT-4 to continue the legacy, and to wipe the bad taste of the Caliber SRT-4 out of people's minds.

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My dream cars, in no order. I won't get as preachy with these. Just the name. If you want to know more about them, look them up.

6. 1998 Lotus Espirit V8 Twin Turbo



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7. McLaren F1



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8. Ascari KZ1



9. 1969 Lamborghini Miura



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And, the ultimate trophy car if I could get my hands on one:

10. 1969 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi

Cameron wrote:

I honestly don't have a "dream car", I just want something that runs, will last me a long time, has good gas mileage, low insurance rates, has windows, a strong air conditioner, and at least four doors.

Sounds like you want something like a Toyota Camry or Hyundai Elantra.

Though if you're willing to settle for lower MPG, then a GM luxury car from the 80s/90s would be good as well. Something like an Olds, Buick, or Pontiac. Get one with the GM 3.8 V6. You'll get ~20 MPG, and the parts for those engines are so cheap and are easy to find, I'm surprised Auto Part stores don't have vending machines for them out front. Also, you'll get lower insurance rates with those over the smaller imports.

I personally recommend the Buick Park Avenue. God, those cars are so comfortable. They handle good, and the ride feels like your floating over the road, instead of rolling over it.

username wrote:

Knyte wrote: Cameron wrote: I honestly don't have a "dream car", I just want something that runs, will last me a long time, has good gas mileage, low insurance rates, has windows, a strong air conditioner, and at least four doors. Sounds like you want something like a Toyota Camry or Hyundai Elantra. Though if you're willing to settle for lower MPG, then a GM luxury car from the 80s/90s would be good as well. Something like an Olds, Buick, or Pontiac. Get one with the GM 3.8 V6. You'll get ~20 MPG, and the parts for those engines are so cheap and are easy to find, I'm surprised Auto Part stores don't have vending machines for them out front. Also, you'll get lower insurance rates with those over the smaller imports. I personally recommend the Buick Park Avenue. God, those cars are so comfortable. They handle good, and the ride feels like your floating over the road, instead of rolling over it. i personally recommend a Honda Civic.

Honda Civics are one of the most expensive "economy" cars to insure. They meet all the other requirements except for that one.

If you are under 30 and a single male you pay through the nose to insure one. You can thank the fact the they are not only one of the most stolen cars, but also so many of them are wrecked every year because of idiot teenagers.