2011 Ford Mustang GT -- If you're a Baby Boomer, driving the 412-horsepower GT with Brembo brakes and sweet-shifting six-speed transmission will make you feel 30 again. And if you're less than 30, driving this Mustang will make you feel like Superman or Superwoman. The legendary 5.0 returns, and its distinctive V-8 rumble tingles the senses. With the optional 19-inch wheels and Brembo brakes, the Mustang GT is an overachiever that nearly equals the track performance of the BMW M3 at a fraction of the cost, but the Ford still delivers the holy trinity of high performance: big horsepower, impeccable handling, and impressive stopping power.

This performance goodness is enhanced with the Mustang's remarkably light clutch and accurate six-speed manual transmission. The 2011 Mustang GT sets a high-water mark for performance cars, and virtually guarantees driving bliss every time you slip behind the wheel.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster A7 -- The Nissan 370Z Roadster scored second place on my list, squeaking past Subaru's giant-killer WRX STi. It earned a podium finish because it's utterly impractical. Imagine owning a rear-wheel-drive, two-seat convertible in a part of the country that's subjected to snowfall eight months each year, and which occasionally dallies with -30 C temperatures in November. Nissan's 370Z wins my "protest vote" just because life's too short to be a slave to practicality.

The 370Z Roadster is like a super-model lover -- it seduces you with drop-dead gorgeous looks, will ultimately fail if pressed into a life of family servitude, and demands a fat bank roll if you lust for its beauty.

Our 370Z Roadster stickered at a wallet-flattening $51,298. Yes, it's porky for a bona fide sports car, but the 370Z perfects the art of compromise. Even fitted with its optional 19-inch wheels (part of a $4,000 Sport Package), the Roadster's suspension is well-tuned and compliant, handling potholes like a Grand Touring machine.

Al fresco motoring is only a console-mounted push button and 18 seconds away, and with good aerodynamics (conversations are doable up to 110 km/h with the top down and side windows raised) and niceties such as air-conditioned seats, the Nissan Roadster delivers an extraordinary driving experience.

A deliciously sonorous exhaust note accompanies the free-revving, 332-horsepower V-6, and Nissan's slick-shifting seven-speed automatic transmission (that's smart enough to blip the throttle on downshifts) makes the 370Z a supremely satisfying sports car to drive.

2011 Subaru WRX STi -- The STi is Subaru's 305-horsepower, no-holds-barred, all-wheel-drive street fighter. This maximum-performance sport compact takes inspiration from Subaru's world rally championship cars, and the STi pounds out shock and awe to unsuspecting owners of pricier performance cars, especially when roads are slick. The turbocharged four-cylinder STi is arguably the best-bang-for-the-buck all-weather performance car available.

For 2011, the STi is available in four-door sedan version and is upgraded with improved suspension, structural reinforcements and lighter wheels. These refinements eliminate the bone-jarring suspension of the first-generation STi, and serious performance is assured by go-fast aids such as standard limited-slip front differential and adjustable, locking centre differential.

The WRX STi is the thinking driver's alternative to the exotic Porsche 911 Carrera 4.

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NOTABLES

- -2011 Buick Regal CXL -- Germandesigned and German-built (for now), the new Regal proves GM can produce world-class vehicles.

- -2010 Ford Flex AWD Limited -- Our Flex had an impressive 355-horsepower twin-turbo V-6 that runs on regular fuel and a build quality that could easily brandish the Lincoln nameplate.

- -2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI diesel -- German handling and a penny-pinching, torquey turbodiesel make this Jetta the near-perfect choice for enthusiast drivers who need a family sedan.

- -2010 Ford Transit Connect -- European style, compact exterior, large interior, and fuel-efficient front-wheel-drive make Ford's new cargo van a game-changer for small business.

- -2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic -- This mid-sized all-wheel-drive luxury sedan is perfect for those who demand the best of the best.

- -2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon -- This is for those who loathe SUVs. Arguably the finest looking station wagon on the road, our 306-horsepower, all-wheel-drive tester begs the question: Why drive an SUV?

- -2010 BMW F800R motorcycle -- We've snuck in one motorcycle. This mid-sized 800-c. c. parallel twin Beemer is an un-faired standard that wins a motorcyclist's heart with its power, light weight, easy handling and affordable sub-$10,000 price.