Mazda RX-8 GT

$39,695 Cdn.

Like last year, we think the RX-8 comes as close as you can get to an all-and-out sports car experience, yet still carry two real live humans in the back. Plus, no other sports coupe gives you the shrill of the 238 h.p./164 lb.-ft. of torque 1.3-litre two-rotor Wankel. A slick, six-speed comes standard with the GT along with 225/45R-18 rubber, Tokico monotube shocks and Bosch ABS and stability control.
2004 Mazda RX-8 FTLOD Review

New for 2006: Six-speed manumatic for the shiftless and GTs get keyless entry widget
S-S.com choice: Titanium Grey Metallic
Cudda hadda: More power and other refinements coming mid-‘06
Why Buy?: The wail of the engine, the convenience of four doors

Infiniti G35 Coupe Sport Package

$51,600 Cdn.

Slightly less hardcore than the 350 Zed it’s based upon, this 2+2 version can do a reasonable impersonation of a sports car when called upon. Its 298 h.p./260 lb.-ft. of torque 3.5-litre DOHC 24-valve vee-six helps. The close-ratio six-speed stick, sophisticated multilink suspension, generous 19-inch rubber and damn near perfect front-to-rear weight distribution help with the Bavarian polka rip-off as well.
2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe FTLOD Review

New for 2006: Rear active-steer, Bi-Xenon headlights and revised taillights
S-S.com choice: Silverstone with Sport Package, Rear Active Steer
Cudda hadda: A sleeker G35 coupe could be here for the ‘07 Goods
Why Buy?: A nice alternative while 330Cis are on hiatus

Ford Mustang GT

$32,999 Cdn.

Doesn’t sound much for a rear-drive 2+2 packing 300 h.p./320 lb.-ft. of torque 4.6-litre vee-eight, eh? Until the Caliber SRT arrives, the Mustang GT is still the cheapest off-the-rack 300 horse new car on the market. And despite that rigid-axle rear, it’s a handler. Contrasting the Summer of Love exterior looks, much improved interior driver ergonomics with build quality to match brings the ‘Stang into the new millennium.
2006 Ford Mustang GT FTLOD Review

New for 2006: New wheels and colours
S-S.com choice: Tungsten Gray and get the rear-spoiler delete option
Cudda hadda: Save your money for the 475 h.p. Shelby GT500 coming summer ‘06
Why Buy?: Until Dodge and Chevy get their acts together, this is the only pony car in the corral

BMW 325Ci Coupé M Sport Edition

$50,300 Cdn.

By the time we roll out the ’07 Goods, we’ll have a new 3 Series coupe to drool over. But until then the only non-M3 3 Series coupe available will be this end-of-the-run special. Although limited to three exterior colours and the 184 h.p./175 lb.-ft. of torque 3.0-litre straight-six, you do get a ton of standard equipment. What’s important: sport suspension, an M steering wheel, 17” M double spoke alloy wheels, and sports seats.

New for 2006: Adaptive headlights
S-S.com choice: Sparkling Graphite Metallic
Cudda hadda: The turbo 3.0-litre vee-six in the upcoming 335Ci
Why Buy?: If you’ve always wanted a maxed-out E46 325Ci, go for it!

Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Coupe

$37,840 Cdn.

For ’06, it’s bye-bye wheezy supercharged four, hello 201 h.p./181  lb.-ft. of torque 2.5-litre vee-six. With the demise of BMW’s 318Ti at the end of the last millennium, congrats to M-B for continuing to offer a European rear-wheel experience in a well equipped coupe/hatch. There’s an optional seven-speed manumatic, but stick with the six-speed stick. For the price of a Mitsubishi Eclipse, which would you rather drive?

New for 2006: See above
S-S.com choice: Pewter Silver Metallic
Cudda hadda: The new SLK 280 at $20k more shows what a bargain the C230 SC really is
Why Buy?: Cheap, German rear-drive coupes are becoming rarer and rarer

Chevrolet SSR

$49,995 Cdn.

The love child of a Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster and a Chevy Trailblazer, the SSR is proudly the world’s only rear-drive, two-seat, convertible roadster with a pickup box in the back—so there! In all honesty, the only reason the dubious SSR made it to this year’s Goods is the Corvette-based 400 h.p./400 lb.-ft. of torque vee-eight that’s only available when partnered with the Tremec T56 close-ratio six-speed stick. Don’t laugh: this combo will send the SSR to 96 km/h in just 5.3 seconds.

New for 2006: More power is always a good thing
S-S.com choice: Ricochet Silver Metallic
Cudda hadda: Dodge RAM SRT-10 is another one of our save-the-planet faves
Why Buy?: Just the thing to drive when the Harley’s in the shop