Like its virtual twin, the Camaro, the Pontiac Firebird underwent a significant restyling for the 1998 model year while still retaining the strength under the hood which has kept it as one of America's classic pony cars. It comes standard with a 3.8-liter V6 and is rated at 200 horsepower. A 5.7-liter V8 provides a ridiculously strong ride for the price.

A great thing about Firebirds is that they can get you out of carpool duty; the back seat is virtually useless for anything other than grocery bags. Conversely, if your aim is to bring several friends with you everywhere you go, this might not be the car for you. Like the Corvette and Camaro, this machine wraps itself nicely around the driver while paying less attention to the comfort of other drivers, including the passenger who must contend with a large hump at his or her feet.

All in all, the Firebird offers great bang for the buck. It has been rumored that the Firebird can take an evenly matched Mustang off the line.