Whether it’s a two-seat roadster, sporty 2+2 coupe or convertible, or compact sport sedan, buying a car with peppy performance and sporty lines that handles well doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. In the sporty car segments, the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class are the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS)SM award recipients.
Compact Sporty Car Segment
Highest Ranked: 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
It’s hard to believe that the Mazda Miata roadster has been around for nearly 20 years. First offered in 1989 (1990 model year), the Miata has not deviated from its original mission: to offer sports-car-like handling in an efficient package at a reasonable price. Add top quality to the equation and you have the highest-ranked model in the compact sporty car segment in the 2008 IQS.
Both soft- and hardtop versions of the 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata are available in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trim, and there’s a lower-cost SV (Special Value) version of the soft-top as well. The SV has cloth upholstery; tilt steering wheel; driver’s seat height adjustment; power mirrors and windows; AM/FM/CD audio system; theft-deterrent system; pop-up wind blocker; manual convertible top; and P205/55R16 tires on alloy wheels. The Sport soft-top model with the manual transmission adds air conditioning and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Sport soft-top and hardtop with the automatic transmission add cruise control; power door locks; remote keyless entry; steering wheel audio controls; and fog lights. The Touring trim has a 6-disc CD changer and P205/45R17 tires mounted to larger multi-spoke alloy wheels. Grand Touring models get heated leather seats and a Bose audio system.
Power for the 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata is supplied by a 166-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. This dual-overhead cam engine has variable intake valve timing and revs to a 6700 rpm redline. In the SV model, it is linked to a 5-speed manual transmission. Sport models offer the 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with a manual shift gate and steering wheel shift paddles. Touring and Grand Touring models have a 6-speed manual or the 6-speed automatic.
2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata prices
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Ranked No. 2: 2008 Subaru Impreza
The redesigned 2008 Subaru Impreza ranks No. 2 in the compact sporty car segment in the 2008 IQS. The new model features more mainstream styling and a bigger interior compared to last year’s model. The 2008 Impreza is offered in 2.5i, WRX and Outback Sport trim levels; 2.5i and WRX are available as either a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback, while the Outback Sport comes only as a 5-door. 2.5i and Outback Sport models are powered by a 170-hp, 2.5-liter, horizontally-opposed (or "boxer") 4-cylinder engine. The WRX is powered by a 224-hp, turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter engine. All versions of the 2008 Subaru Impreza feature standard AWD.
Ranked No. 3: 2008 Pontiac Solstice
Ranked No. 3 in the compact sporty car segment in the 2008 IQS is the Pontiac Solstice. Introduced for the 2007 model year, the Solstice roadster returns for 2008 as a carryover model but adds OnStar, a tire-pressure-monitoring system, a CD/MP3 stereo, and three months of free XM satellite radio programming. The Solstice was co-developed and shares its platform and much of its hardware with the Saturn Sky. For 2008, consumers can choose a base Pontiac Solstice or performance-oriented Solstice GXP. The base model is powered by a 173-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the GXP is outfitted with a 260-hp, turbocharged, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine.
Compact Premium Sporty Car Segment
Highest Ranked: 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK is the compact premium sporty car award recipient in the 2008 IQS. Mercedes-Benz sells six different CLK-Class models for 2008, with four engine choices, in both coupe and convertible body styles. The V-6-powered CLK350 Coupe and V-8-powered CLK550 Coupe are the standard offerings. Enthusiasts may prefer the race-inspired, track-ready CLK63 AMG Black Series. Convertible CLK models include the V-6-powered CLK350 Cabriolet and V8-powered CLK550 Cabriolet. The enthusiast-oriented CLK63 AMG offers top-down driving for those looking for high performance.
All 2008 CLK models offer leather seating; authentic wood trim; 10-way power adjustable seats; and an in-dash 6-speaker audio system with CD player as standard appointments. Options to the non-AMG performance models include several premium packages. These offer upgrades such as Xenon headlamps, auto-dimming mirrors, and ventilated front seats. A Sport Appearance package includes suspension upgrades, and adds cross-drilled brake rotors inside 17-inch wheels. The AMG models benefit from heavily upgraded brakes, suspension, wheel and tire packages, and special interior appointments. The CLK63 AMG Black Series offers a number of performance upgrades.
Four different engines offer distinctly different driving characteristics for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK. The standard engine, found in the CLK350, is a 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6. The CLK550 features a 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8 engine. Both are mated to an electronically controlled 7-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance models include the CLK63 AMG with a 475-hp, 6.3-liter V-8 engine, and the race-inspired CLK63 AMG Black Series. The engine in the Black Series yields 500 hp. All CLK models are rear-wheel drive and offer a 48-month/50,000-mile warranty.
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class prices
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class photos
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Ranked No. 
2: 2008 Porsche Cayman
Introduced as a 2006 model, the Porsche Cayman ranks No. 2 in the compact premium sporty car segment in the 2008 IQS. Standard models for 2008 are the Cayman and slightly higher-performance Cayman S. Porsche is also offering a special design-edition Cayman model this year. The standard engine in the Cayman is a 245-hp, 2.7-liter, horizontally-opposed 6-cylinder engine, offered with a choice of three different transmissions, including the Tiptronic S, Porsche’s electronically-controlled automatic transmission. The Cayman S features a more powerful, 295-hp, 3.4-liter, horizontally-opposed 6-cylinder engine. The Cayman S is available with a 6-speed manual transmission, or the Tiptronic S.
Ranked No. 3: 2008 Volvo C70
Ranked No. 3 in the compact premium sporty car segment in the 2008 IQS, the Volvo C70 is a 2-door, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger convertible. For 2008, Volvo has increased power, added a standard tire-pressure-monitoring system, and made minor cosmetic changes in the passenger cabin. The 2008 Volvo C70 is only available in T5 trim. Standard on all models is a power-operated, 3-piece, retractable hardtop convertible roof that can be raised or lowered in about 30 seconds, Volvo says. The standard engine on all 2008 Volvo C70 models is a 227-hp, turbocharged, 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine. The intercooled engine powers the front wheels through a standard 6-speed manual transmission.
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