Porsche Boxster S

$81,840 Cdn.

Both Boxsters were upgraded for ’05, but the one you still want is the S. It gets you the 276 h.p./236 lb.-ft. of torque 3.2-litre flat-six (up 40, 37 and half a litre over the cooking Boxster) plus one more gear in the transmission for a total of six. The optional Porsche Active Stability Management (PASM), which can stabilize the car in severe understeer and oversteer conditions, is worth the extra clams. Fluid, yet forceful, the mid-engined Porsche in S form will obey your commands easier than a more temperamental 911 cab
2006 Porsche Boxster S FTLOD Review

New for 2006: If you don’t count the Cayman, then nada
S-S.com choice: Atlas Gray Metallic, PASM
Cudda hadda: Cayman S
Why Buy?: The most fun in a Porsche with the top down

Lotus Elise

$58,500 Cdn.

On sale in the U.S. since late 2004, British sports car diehards rejoice, the funky Elise is officially available in Canada. Weighing less than 900 kilograms, the two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports car is powered by a 190 h.p./138 lb.-ft. of torque 1.8-litre Toyota four currently found in the XRS models of the Corolla and Matrix, but with its own straight cold-air intake, exhaust system and a different throttle-opening rate

New for 2006: One of the best handling cars in the world now available to Canucks
S-S.com choice: Whatever you can get our hands on
Cudda hadda: The even more hardcore Exige hardtop
Why Buy?: When nothing but the driving matters

Honda S2000

$50,300 Cdn.

With the death of the NSX supercar, and Honda committed to all-wheel-drive for its performance cars, the cards don’t look good for the S2000’s future. For now, it still carries its screamer of a 237 h.p./162 lb.-ft. of torque 2.2-litre four. And there’s no fancy folding hardtop, or sat nav, or button-adjustable air suspension. But when driven with spirit, it becomes an extension of your car zealot brain. The interior is iDrive-free, the stick is still the best in the biz, brakes are outstanding, and the chassis is eager and willing 24/7.
2005 Honda S2000 FTLOD Review

New for 2006: Electronic throttle
S-S.com choice: Moonrock Metallic
Cudda hadda: Future Honda/Acura coupe based on RL platform with vee-eight or vee-ten power
Why Buy?: Get it while you can

Nissan 350Z Roadster M6 Grand Touring Package

$56,198 Cdn.

Like the Zed coupe, the Roadster gets the 300 h.p./274 lb.-ft. of torque 3.5-litre vee-six and six-speed stick from last year’s 35th Anniversary model. The Roadster’s Grand Touring Package doesn’t get the rear spoiler, Rays forged-alloys or meatier rubber that you do on the more hardcore coupe. What you do get is VDC, the Brembos and a front spoiler. The power top and its glass window hide under a lightweight tonneau cover for security and smooth looks.

New for 2006: More horsepower, improved speed-sensitive steering system, larger brake rotors, new front and rear fascias
S-S.com choice: Airstream
Cudda hadda: Go to your Nismo store and find out for yourself
Why Buy?: Serious performer with a not-so-serious price

Mazda MX-5 GS

$30,995 Cdn.

It may be larger inside and out, and quite a bit stiffer, but the new Mia-, er, MX-5, weighs only 12 kilos more than the ’89 original. This not only helps the 170 h.p./140 lb.-ft. of torque 2.0 litre four scoot this roadster to 96 km/h in 6.5 seconds, but the stiffer chassis and improved suspension enable flatter cornering than the Miata. For the Gran Turismo kids, there’s a new six-speed slushbox with steering wheel paddles available on other models, but the six-speed stick is your only choice with the car zealot-fave GS, along with 205/45R17 rubber, ABS, DSC, a limited slip differential, strut tower bar and a tighter suspension with Bilstein shocks
2006 Mazda MX-5 FTLOD Review
2004 Mazdaspeed Miata FTLOD Review

New for 2006: They didn’t screw it up
S-S.com choice: Galaxy Gray Mica
Cudda hadda: Mazda’s Kabura concept hints at a future hardtop MX-5
Why Buy?: Betters other competitor’s roadsters at half their price

Mercedes-Benz SLK 280

$59,950 Cdn.

Last year’s SLK350 made quite an impression with its silken-smooth engine and equally suave six-speed stick. With Mercedes-Benz adding the Canadian-exclusive SLK280, we like Mercedes raodster more—by about $5,450. The 228 h.p./228 lb.-ft. of torque 3.0-litre vee-six is from the same engine family as the bigger 3.5 unit. With less power, it’s only 0.7 seconds slower to 100 km/h, but equally as refined in use. The rest is pure SLK.
2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 FTLOD Review

New for 2006: A cheaper SLK? Cool!
S-S.com choice: Pewter Silver Metallic
Cudda hadda: SLK350
Why Buy?: True four-season roadster fun