Car and Driver $35k coupes: Audi TT 2.0T,Ford Shelby GT,Mazda RX-8,Nissan 350Z

[bmwrules]

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

1st Place
Mazda RX-8 - 198 Points
0-60 - 6.5
0-100 - 18.0
1/4 Mile 15.0 @ 93 mph
5-60 - 7.5
70-0 - 158
300 ft skidpad - .92

Highs
Nimble and responsive chassis, easy to drive fast, good value.

Lows
A wallflower in engine grunt, guzzles gas like a private jet.

Verdict
The winner, but 100 horsepower short of perfect.

2nd Place
Audi TT 2.0T - 192 Points
0-60 - 6.0
0-100 - 15.4
1/4 Mile 14.6 @ 97 mph
5-60 - 6.6
70-0 - 157
300 ft skidpad - .93

Highs
Feels like a luxury car, performs like a proper sports car.

Lows
Front-wheel drive and it shows, useless back seat, expensive.

Verdict
A GTI wrapped in a sexy skin.

3rd Place
Nissan 350Z - 167 Points
0-60 - 5.2
0-100 - 12.6
1/4 Mile 13.7 @ 104 mph
5-60 - 5.6
70-0 - 169
300 ft skidpad - .93

Highs
Most bang for the buck, great steering and brakes, fastest on the track.

Lows
Cheap interior, engine sounds like a coffee grinder inside the car.

Verdict
Great performance makes the flaws bearable.

4th Place
Ford Shelby GT - 165 Points
0-60 - 5.1
0-100 - 12.6
1/4 Mile 13.7 @ 104 mph
5-60 - 5.5
70-0 - 189
300 ft skidpad - .92

Highs
Rumbling exhaust, power oversteer on demand, gets plenty of gawkers.

Lows
JC Whitney-esque hood scoop, not much faster than a Mustang GT.

Verdict
Still unsophisticated-and proud of it