Top 10 Reasons to Get a Sports Car

Your grip on the steering wheel tightens. Your eyes fixate on the yellow line. Your brain screams about the trees just beyond the shoulder. Wait for it… wait for it… ok, NOW! You pounce on the clutch as your right foot stabs the accelerator. A wrist-flick completes the downshift. Feather the brake, turn into the corner and scrub off some speed; the radius decreases slightly. You nail the apex, tires howling like a bloodhound on the trail. You roll back on the throttle for a speedy exit and dive into the next corner.

This scenario plays out on back roads and racetracks around the world every day. An enthusiast putting his or her machine through its paces can be a beautiful thing, a pure expression of automotive bliss; just don’t attempt the same feat in a pickup.

A week or two ago we presented the Top 10 Reasons to Get a Truck, now sports cars get their chance to shine. Why should you put one of these quick and amusing vehicles in your driveway? Here are more than a few good reasons.

Unlike trucks, sports cars are built to run. They’ll never haul sheets of plywood or a tow camper, but in a straight line or on twisty tarmac they can’t be beat. They’re just so much fun to drive. Part of the reason they have such impressive performance is that they’re light. Heavy-duty work requires a lot of iron, which is why even half-ton trucks are so damn bulky. Mass is the enemy of performance and sports cars are light and purposeful, plus they stick to the road like hot asphalt bits to a rocker panel.

Another benefit to sports cars is attractive design. We all think a Lamborghini Diablo looks cool, but we almost universally feel the opposite about Pontiac’s abhorrent Aztek. Don’t believe me? Ask Greek philosopher Plato, not to be confused with Play-doh. According to Wikipedia:

“[He] believed that for us to have a perception of beauty there must be a transcendent form for beauty in which beautiful objects partake and which causes them to be beautiful also.”

We quoted someone famous, so it must be true.

Let’s be honest, the average sedan elicits about as many emotions as shopping for a mattress. Price and comfort are the top priorities when buying either one. Responsibility and sensibility are never exciting. Thankfully sports cars are there to serve a discerning – or lucky – few, just like the Craftmatic adjustable bed.

It’s said cameras add 10 pounds to whomever they photograph; a similar phenomenon occurs when someone climbs behind the wheel of a boring car. The vehicle adds at least 10 years to their age, but there is a solution to this problem. Stylish sports cars actually make their drivers look younger and hotter – it’s science. Perhaps your waistline has expanded as fast as your hairline has receded, no worries, just start driving a Lotus. Problem solved, and chances are passersby won’t even notice your toupee blowing in the breeze.

Matching their powerful engines, sports cars are often equipped with free-flowing exhaust systems. These open outlets act like megaphones, amplifying and broadcasting glorious engine sounds so everyone can enjoy them. The driver’s having a blast behind the wheel; shouldn’t others be able to share in the experience? Think of it as giving back to the community. Symphonic sounds are key to the entire sports car experience. Who wants their Porsche 911 to drone like a four-cylinder Chrysler 200? Maybe Ralph Nader, but then again if he were in charge we’d all be riding on public transportation at 10 miles an hour wearing suits made of energy-absorbing foam while enjoying a bag of kale snacks.

“Honey, when you go out will you drop Susan off for her riding lesson and take Jeremiah to oboe practice? Oh, and can you pick up a few bags of mulch and a flat of petunias?”

Um, how about no? Typically sports cars come with just two seats, half of which are dedicated to the driver. See? They are purposeful. If a particular model does come with a back bench it’s often so cramped it’s unusable, which can be a real asset in certain situations, like when you’re asked to do extra work or run errands.

“Sorry sweetheart, I’m taking the 370Z.”

Automatic transmissions are great. After a long day at work the thought of clutching and shifting a standard gearbox in rush-hour traffic is about as appealing as eating cake with broken glass in it. This is a major reason slushers have taken over the market. People just don’t want to deal with manual cog-crates anymore, not when they can respond to e-mail and play Bejeweled on their Android.

SEE ALSO: Should You Buy a Car with a Manual Transmission?

However if you’re a true enthusiast self-shifting is the only way to go. Unfortunately this automotive caveat severely limits your vehicular options since practically everything available today is automatic-only. Thankfully sports cars are often available with stick-shifts so you can still row ‘em if you’ve got ‘em. These transmissions are decidedly old school; they’re like ordering on a Side Car or Gin Rickey at a posh nightclub.

Just about every car is built to serve a purpose, perhaps with the exception of Nissan’s Murano CrossCabriolet; we’re still trying to figure what a drop-top utility is supposed to accomplish.

On the other hand, pickup trucks are designed to haul loads of firewood and tow bass boats, minivans are meant to take herds of kiddies to little league tournaments, and compact sedans are all about fuel economy. But sports cars are designed to put a smile on the driver’s face. Tight steering, capable brakes and a solid suspension make these vehicles a joy to hustle through twists and turns. If the weather is nice, the tank is full and there’s no traffic, life doesn’t get much better.

If lots of spirited driving is on the menu your car’s not going to get the best fuel economy nor are its tires and brakes going to last for their advertised life-spans, but it doesn’t matter. Sports cars are happy vehicles that are fun to drive. They’re one of life’s greatest things and something everyone should experience.