2005 Chevrolet Corvette Base

The Corvette is Chevrolet's flagship sports car, and for 2005 it's offered as a coupe or convertible with a fiberglass body and a front-engine, rear-drive layout. It's a genuine performance machine: acceleration is immediate, the brakes are strong, and the handling limits are high enough that you'll feel confident pushing it on a back road. The ride is firm and road noise is noticeable, especially on the highway, which is the trade-off for that cornering grip. Inside, the cabin is snug but comfortable for two, with a surprising amount of cargo space in the hatchback, though the plastics feel a bit cheap and can rattle on rough pavement. This is the base Corvette, the entry point to the 2005 lineup, and it shares its 6.0L V8 with the pricier version, so you're not giving up any power.