Car Comparison: Which fun car is right for you?

By John Aaron
August 6, 2019 | 12:59 AM

The front of orange-red 2018 Audi RS3. (WTOP/John Aaron) — <strong>2018 Audi RS3 Sedan 2.5T Quattro S tronic</strong> <strong>Price</strong>: $68,800 as driven An insane combination of a powerful engine in a small car, in a "dear God, look at me" orange-red — technically speaking, Catalunya Red metallic.

A side and rear view of the 2018 Audi RS3. (WTOP/John Aaron) — This Audi RS3 has a wonderfully snappy exhaust note. However, it feels like you need a racetrack to get a sense of the 400 horsepower on tap. Even at this price, most of the seat controls are manual.

A rear view of the 2019 "retro-modern" Ford Mustang Bullitt. (WTOP/John Aaron) — <strong>2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt</strong> <strong>Price:</strong> Estimated $51,485 as driven Fantastically retro-modern pony car, which is a nod to the car driven by Steve McQueen in the 1968 movie “Bullitt.” The original was displayed on the National Mall last year.

The 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt's stick shift and interior console. (WTOP/John Aaron) — The modern car’s white cue ball shifter is a thing of simplistic beauty. Great exhaust rumble while driving. Highland Green paint sparkles in the sun thanks to blue, yellow, and silver metal flakes.

A side view of the metallic-silver Mazda MX-5 Miata Club. (WTOP/John Aaron) — <strong>2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club RF</strong> <strong>Price: </strong>$38,635 as driven Delivers on the crisp and stripped-down driving experience that Miatas are known for. The optional retractable hard top (RF stands for “retractable fastback”) is easy to use.

Interior view of the Mazda MX-5 Miata Club. (WTOP/John Aaron) — Taller people may have a harder time fitting inside, but they may not care much once the car is in motion.

Side view of the Mazda MX-5 Miata Club. (WTOP/John Aaron)

Rear view of the Mazda MX-5 Miata Club. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

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If you’re looking for a fun ride for summer, we’ve got you covered. Although only one is a drop top, all are stylish performance machines perfect for warm-weather cruising.

Here’s a gallery to help you decide which one is best for you.

Coolest cars for summer: SUVs

By John Aaron
July 8, 2020 | 3:50 AM

While convertibles are the stars of summer, SUVs are the workhorses. Their tasks are endless, from trips to the beach to Home Depot or to socially-distanced gatherings. It’s hard to shake up the jam-packed SUV market, but Hyundai managed to do so with the Palisade, as an extreme value play. It seats up to eight, can be equipped with almost every luxury touch and competes with SUVs costing thousands (or tens of thousands) more.

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