Road Rewards
Ready to treat yourself? Here are three luxury roadsters to choose from.
If business has been good this year, why not reward yourself
with a well-deserved treat? Enjoy a breath of fresh air in three
racy luxury roadsters that are not only pure fun, but serious
machines for the enthusiast. Acura's NSX, Lexus' SC 430 and
BMW's M3 all promise that 2004 will be performance-oriented, at
least behind the wheel.
The $89,000 NSX is the biggest and most comfortable of the
three, with driver and passenger seats almost as large as
comfortable leather armchairs. The midmounted powertrain in the
six-speed manual model is a thunderous 3.2-liter V-6 that rips out
290 horsepower, or pick the 3.0-liter V-6 four-speed Sequential
SportShift automatic with 252 horsepower. The all-aluminum body has
the rigidity of steel, the four-wheel independent suspension boasts
superior handling, and the wedge-shaped body design and
fighter-jet-style cockpit proclaim that the Acura NSX is a car on
the cutting edge. Features include ABS, traction control, cruise
control and a removable roof panel.
A little lower on the financial scale is Lexus' $62,575 SC
430, an elegantly stylish convertible with a powered, retractable
hardtop. The 4.3-liter V-8 engine teams 300 horsepower with a
five-speed automatic transmission. And technology abounds in the
continuously variable valve timing system; ABS; electronic
throttle, traction and skid control; and a split-screen DVD
navi-gation system.
Content Continues Below
If Beemers are your bag, look no further than the $55,195 M3
convertible. A true European roadster for the purist, it's
packed with performance and handling components: variable valve
timing, throttle control, digital motor electronics,
stability/traction control, ABS, independent suspension, and
massive four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. The racing-inspired
engine, a 3.2-liter in-line six-cylinder, works with a six-speed
manual transmission with a heavy-duty clutch. Fresh-air fiends will
appreciate the powered soft-top and glass rear window.
Editor and consultant Jill amadio has been reporting on the
automotive industry for 24 years.