Pursuit - Sports Car Edition - The Cars (2)

The Cars
By Kelly Taylor





If there’s one thing this collection of cars shows, it’s that each car appeals to different people for different reasons. While those looking for the ultimate in sports cars might be happier in the SLK, Cayman or TTS, those looking to drive in the lap of luxury should look no further than the Lexus SC 430.

The SC 430 leaves nothing on the table in terms of power, but with its Jaguar-like lightly weighted steering, comfortable, compliant ride and easygoing demeanour, the SC is clearly tailored to the luxury crowd. And it takes care of them wonderfully. Soft leather seats and a high-quality and classy interior, with automatic everything, the SC 430 is certainly among the top luxury convertibles on the road today.

The Pebble Beach Edition offers a stunning interior with dark grey burled maple trim and brushed aluminum inserts. The dark grey trim de-emphasizes the woodgrain trim look nicely.

The SC offers a more comfortable ride than the others in this group, but at the expense, slightly, of razor-sharp handling.

Its price is $83,000 for the Pebble Beach Edition, which adds lighted “Lexus” door sills, 18-inch machine Tourmaline alloy wheels and a special unidentified gift.

The Specs:
Engine	4.3-litre V8 engine with variable valve timing
Power	288 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Torque:	317 lb-ft @ 3,400 rpm
Transmission	six-speed automatic with manual shift mode
Brakes:	four-wheel disc with ABS, brake assist, brake-force distribution
Fuel Economy:	12.9 litres per 100 km city, 9.8 l/100km highway
Price:	$83,000
Warranty:	four years, 80,000 km comprehensive; six years, 110,000 powertrain; eight years, 130,000 km emission control; four-year roadside assistance.

Heated seats in a roadster are nice, but to truly extend the open-air motoring season, you need a scarf.

But if the image of Howard Hughes in an open-cockpit biplane isn’t doing it for you, consider what Mercedes-Benz has to offer. The SLK hard-top convertible features those heated seats and what it calls an Air Scarf. This is a vent at neck level in each seat that blows warm air around your neck and over your shoulders. Every roadster should be so lucky. On a crisp spring day down Roblin Boulevard, Air Scarf kept the cold out while letting the sunshine in.

The SLK 300, as driven, isn’t the fire-breathing SLK 55 AMG, but its 255-horsepower V6 is plenty powerful, with zero-to-100 km/h clocked at 6.3 seconds. It’s a joy to drive, with crisp, sure handling, a comfortable ride and head-turning good looks.

The top stows neatly in the trunk at the flick of a switch. Like the other hardtop convertibles in this test, it’s a dance of mechanical brilliance. When it’s up, it seals as well as a coupe.

The Specs:
Engine	3.0-litre 24-valve V6
Power	255 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque	221 lb-ft. @ 2,700 rpm
Transmission	six-speed manual, seven-speed 7GTronic automatic
Brakes:	four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and brake assist
Price:	$57,500
Warranty:	four years, 80,000 comprehensive, five years, unlimited kilometre corrosion perforation, four years, unlimited kilometres roadside assistance

There are few cars as instantly recognizable as a Porsche. Those raised fenders and that sloping hood–part of the Porsche design mantra for four decades–create an iconic look that can’t be mistaken for anything else. Drive a Porsche, and people notice.

Drive a Cayman, and you might be driving the most thoroughly enjoyable sports car experience on the road today. Sure there are cars with more horsepower and more torque, but you have to look long and hard to find a car that’s as well-balanced as the Cayman. There’s plenty of power on tap, but what makes the Cayman special is the balance between power and handling and day-to-day driveability.

With a solid roof, it comes as no surprise that the car feels stiffer, less prone to body twist, than the Boxster. That’s part of its appeal, combined with the way the body skin is pulled tautly over the frame, an efficiency of design that leaves a lean, muscular look. The 2.9-litre horizontally opposed engine sits between the seats and rear axle, putting most of the weight as near to the centre of the car as possible. That delivers excellent handling. It’s quite the package.

The Specs:
Engine	2.9-litre horizontally-opposed six-cylinder
Power	265 hp
Torque	221 lb-ft from 4,400 rpm to 6,000 rpm
Transmission	six-speed manual, seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (double-clutch automated manual transmission)
Brakes:	four-wheel disc with ABS, brake force distribution
Fuel Economy:	11.2 litres per 100 km city, 7.4 l/100km highway
Warranty:	four years, 80,000 kilometres comprehensive, eight years, 130,000 emission control component, 10-year warranty against corrosion perforation in the body shell.