Yahoo Autos 7 dream cars for the holidays
If you’re dreaming of a shiny new car in the driveway this holiday season, dream big. To inspire, we've assembled a collection of mechanical sugar plums worthy of an informed auto-enthusiasts' wish list.
Consumer Reports' engineers and editors drive well over 100 new cars every year, and we’ve found many exotics don’t live up to the image. Here are seven dream machines that do, listed in in ascending order of price.
Updated icon: Ford Mustang
Base MSRP range: $23,600-$41,600
You don’t have to be made of money to dream of owning a Mustang. And after sampling several updated 2015 models, so far they live up to the legend. Spirited handling, an accommodating interior, and power galore are Mustang hallmarks. And they’re all here, no matter which engine you choose. Purists will pine for the Mustang GT with its walloping 435-hp V8. But the humbler engine choices are hardly a compromise, whether you pick the punchy 300-hp V6 or the new 310-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. The interior is more spacious and decidedly less low-rent than the outgoing car, with a well-balanced mix of high-quality materials, modern amenities, and old-school charm. As always, sun lovers can also choose a convertible. The Mustang is the car you lusted for as a kid, and it is has grown into the stallion that can live up to your fantasies.
Everyday sports car: BMW M235i
Base MSRP range: $32,100-$44,900
Razor-sharp handling, a mighty hammer of slick six-cylinder turbo power, and right-now brakes all helped this littlest BMW shine against every other sports car in our testing—especially at its price. That includes the poster-boy Porsche 911 and the muscle-bound Chevrolet Corvette. A little jittery but never harsh, the ride is extremely civilized for a sports car. Inside, the seats and controls fit most enthusiasts like a custom tailored suit. It even has a modest back seat that’s useable in a pinch. Look for a convertible to land at dealerships this spring.
Uber sedan: Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec
Base MSRP range: $51,800-$103,200
Ranking second among luxury sedans in our tests only to the Tesla Model S, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class succeeds for many of the same reasons: It coddles occupants in quiet tranquility, slices corners with confident precision, and with its diesel engine, it sips less fuel than some basic four-cylinder sedans, at 30 mpg. You can also choose a gas-powered V6 or V8 that is even quieter and smoother, with thoroughbred acceleration. And E-Class now caters to dreamers in the North Country, with all-wheel drive optional even with the diesel engine. A staff favorite, the E-Class puts comfort, function, and good reflexes over glitzy flash. It isn’t overtly sporty, yet it proves at least as capable on the track as many competitors that claim to be sports sedans.
