2002 Pontiac Firebird

The Firebird is Pontiac's rear-wheel-drive muscle coupe, the one with the aggressive nose and available T-tops that defined the brand's performance image. The cabin is snug, especially in back, but the front seats are comfortable and the hatchback gives you more cargo room than you'd expect. Watch for bubbling paint on the T-tops and cracking door panels, both common on these cars as they age. Stepping up to the Firebird convertible gets you open-air driving with the same 5.7L V8 as the coupe, but you give up the T-top roof's removable panels. The 5.7L V8 makes 310 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque, and with the four-speed automatic it's quick off the line but returns 19 mpg combined. This convertible's power-operated top stows under a hard cover, and the rear seats are best left for small children or extra cargo.