Great Cars for First Dates

Five Roadsters That Will Get Her (and Your) Engine Running

By SHERYLL ALEXANDER, AOL AUTOS

Why should a female auto journalist give you advice on great date cars? Because as far as cars go, I know what turns a woman on and what really turns her off.

So, what do potential dates perceive when you drive up? On the first date with my husband, he drove me around in an old Volvo sedan with very squeaky brakes. Derick is an actor and his car reflected his lifestyle as a struggling artist dedicated to his talent. I was obviously more impressed by his intelligence, reliability and determination rather than his status or style.

photo: couple kissing in car

The ride is impressive -- how 'bout you?

But most women these days are rather picky when it comes to a guy's ride. Your car really does send her all the right or wrong messages about how much money you make and what gets your engine running. Let's be honest, some girls just like a flashy ride too.

Your car's condition can also be a negative or positive. Is your car dull or does it shine? Most women are wary of extremes, so both the messy slob and the neat freak can make a woman run for the hills. Show her you can live with a little chaos, but that you mostly like to be clean and organized.

Some guys feel like they need to rack up as many "mack" points as possible to impress the ladies. I think personal integrity and animal-like chemistry should count way more than what kind of vehicle you drive, but I guess some guys feel that spending the extra money on a racy ride is certainly worth the dating gamble.

To help you get to dating paradise, or just to woo the lady in your life, we road tested five great sport cars. Each one should put you on the road to finding that perfect someone ... or someone who likes your car better than you.

See Nissan 350Z Roadster Photos

Nissan 350Z Roadster
Mack Points: Pure Mack Daddy with powerful growling engine. Convertible top and sexy exterior lines.
Not Diggin' It: Rather small interior can make things tight, a bit too racy for commuting
MSRP: $27,900 - $40,250

First comes marriage, then the kids and then going out on a date seems more like a miracle rather than an exciting weekly excursion. So, my husband and I were overjoyed to be driving a sleek yet curvaceous Nissan 350Z Roadster on a recent trip to a world-class dinner at The Montage Resort & Spa in scenic Laguna Beach. While watching rather violent Pacific shore waves break over rocks, sand and cliffs, we sat in the Z's cozy leather seats and noted how its driving mechanics feel so much like driving a Corvette -- pure power, racy cockpit and over-the-top masculine styling.

The exterior design definitely calls out to a more hip crowd of daring men who like the Z Roadster's sexy curves and oversized haunches. The carbon silver color, a dark silver tone with glinting highlights, really showed off the Z's muscular frame with modern appeal.

Now, your date may not get off on the under-the-hood details like molybdenum-coated pistons and micro-finished crankshaft and camshafts, but you'll get excited every time you let this 3.5 liter V6 roar down the highway. We thoroughly enjoyed the tight handling and super fast acceleration, but the heavy-footed manual transmission was not so fun. However, we were especially impressed with the sound engineering, which makes the Z Roadster roar like you've got thousands of growling beasts at your feet. Your date, no doubt, will definitely think you are a dynamic guy with this much power at your feet.

Certainly not girly in any way, the 350Z Roadster's interior is a marvel in masculine design. This all-black wonder of leather and chrome accents looks and feels even more like a race car with its ventilated leather and mesh-appointed seats, which in our case came in a very stylish two-toned black and burnt orange accent colors.

Remember to be sensitive about your date's delicate hair style, so don't put down the Nissan Z's soft top until you have stopped at a quiet scenic spot. The silent, smooth and quick design of the top-down function would even impress fictional ladies' man James Bond.

Basically, the Nissan 350Z Roadster is truly a he-man's ride come true whether girls like it or not.

See Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Photos

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
Mack Points: Rather inexpensive convertible, five seats can do double duty for dates and daddy duties
Not Diggin' It: Most feminine exterior of the bunch
MSRP: $25,699-$28,599

I watched the sleek, fully-lined cloth top drop down in about 20 seconds, placed my feet on the silver metal petals and my right hand on the leather-balled gear shift and sped away in the Mitshubishi Eclipse Spyder for a starry-night coastal ride to the luxurious St. Regis Hotel in Laguna Beach, Calif. Even with the top down on my way to the hotel for dinner, my hairdo remained in tact as my bottom stayed warm from the heated leather seating surface. Perfect hair, a warm butt and an open top is a girl's dream come true, right?

If I were still a single woman and a date showed up driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, I'd definitely be impressed by his taste in sleek, taut and muscular-styled convertibles. And, my eyes would surely feast on the wave-form instrument panel with distinctive motorcycle-inspired gauges and ice-blue nighttime illumination.

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The Eclipse Spyder is the convertible version of the popular Eclipse coupe. It's the soft top, which opens and closes at the touch of a switch and features a new powered tonneau cover which keeps the convertible top neatly hidden while maintaining the Spyders overall style. On the inside a new LCD screen for audio, outside temperature and compass readings is within easy sight.

Powered by a 162 hp, 2.4 liter, 4-cylinder MIVEC engine (there is also a more powerful V6 with 260 hp available on the GT trim), Mitsubishi's Eclipse Spyder is a thrill to drive, especially this six-speed manual version. Your date will certainly think you are responsible when you tell her your chick magnet ride starts at just $26,000.

In the model we road tested, the bumping sound system (with 650 Watts by Rockford Fosgate and an eight-inch woofer housed in the back seat) would surely attract her attention too. And, you'd get off controlling it all via well-placed buttons built into the steering wheel. Guys, you definitely can't go wrong with this one!

Next Page: Mercedes-Benz CL 550, Audi TT Roadster and Porsche Cayman

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339 comments

Rieckens 08:36:46 AM Feb 15 2008

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At 63 and 62 we are on our first date every time we drive my little red, soft top 350Z.

Aleigh Cat 01:38:48 AM Feb 15 2008

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AG1NOW...No...you've got it wrong - if you want to "get laid", learn to play the guitar with your tongue...................

Aleigh Cat 01:30:59 AM Feb 15 2008

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[cont..] "...unless I have to dress up, I live in Reeboks. I'm just not a materialistic girl. I confess...I love antiques, but I have so many now, that I'm running out of space, so I don't collect those anymore...1/2 of mine are heirlooms, anyway. So...you're completely wrong about all women loving to shop. I'd much rather spend time at home snuggled up on the couch with hubby........

Aleigh Cat 01:27:30 AM Feb 15 2008

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Xzibit1613:

**********APPLAUSE!!!***********

You got it! A real woman worth having only cares about how she's treated...not the wallet, not the size of the butt/gut, not the "bling"..etc.......all I ever cared about was a kind-hearted man with a sense of humor who treated me like I was the most important thing in his life. You get back exactly what you give..............Going on 26 years this April.........

and TRHartzell....I detest shopping (and yes, I'm a woman)....besides, if I wanted to shop, I have my own money in which to do so........ I've already told hubby to please not buy me anymore jewelry --- I love the beautiful pieces he's bought me, but c'mon...how much jewelry can one person wear? I wear my favorites, and the others just sit in a drawer...a waste, IMO. Clothes shopping? I DETEST it, as I'm hard to fit...I'm a jeans and sweatshirt kind of girl, anyway. Purses? I've been carrying the same one for 10 years...I like it, so why change? Shoes? Unless I have to dress

Aleigh Cat 01:12:55 AM Feb 15 2008

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***sorry..."Neanderthalithic"

Aleigh Cat 01:11:51 AM Feb 15 2008

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HavasuOrbust:

I guess I'd take the highway.............with a pompous, Neanerthalithic attitude as "my way or the highway", you're not any kind of man I'd want to know. I'd meet you head to head on everything and pis* you off just for spite. If there's anything I hate more than being "told" what to do, it's being told "how it is" by a man. And........I think Jeeps are stupid, personally. If you were a nice guy with a good attitude, it wouldn't matter, but I don't give guys with your kind of attitude the time of day. Plenty of single men out there, too............

MOTORCTMADMAN59 07:41:46 PM Feb 14 2008

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USA ,,,,,MADE IN ....US......CHEVY POWERED

REAL POWER FOR REAL WOMEN..........

WHATA THINK ?

MOTORCTMADMAN59 07:28:32 PM Feb 14 2008

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YA BUT MY 94 VETT T TOP , 409 HP STOCK, BLACK ON BLACK I OWN THAT *****
SWEET ASS HELL ,, LOVE IT ITS NOT ME N THE BANK AND A VIPER YA KNOW ////?????......OWN THE VETT N HOUSE CHEVY TRUCK N ME
TWO 4 WHEELERS ,,900 JET SKI ....THAT WILL PULL A WOMAN IF YA WHAT EM
AND RETERD ,,AND THANK GOD FOR IT ALL........I LOVE THE WOMEN TO N LIFE TO....

GRODGKY 06:26:17 PM Feb 14 2008

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There's no way that a real red-blooded AMERICAN sweetheart would ever set foot in any of that foreign junk that Sheryll thinks is cute. Unless they are as superficial as the cars.