5 2010 Sports Cars with Hottest Returns

If there's one thing that's true about sports coupes it is this: aside from the fact they are a blast to drive, they hold their values. Indeed, the sports coupes of the Class of 2010 are among the best we've seen in a long time, as confirmed by the folks at Road and Track. Indeed, we've put together a list of the top five sports coupes and their values. And, believe it or not, an American model leads the way.

1. Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

Although priced about $6,000 more than the base 'Vette, the difference is like day and night. For example, the Grand Sport receives the same tire/brake package as the far pricier Z06, but at about half the price. It's interesting, as Roadandtrack.com has pointed out that when the 'Vette began life, it was nothing to write home about, powered by a "Blue Flame" inline six, mated to a three-speed. Today's vehicle, whose engine is a handbuilt 430-horsepower road-ripper, costs about $57,000 and which is worth between $55,000 and $58,000 as a preowned vehicle today is an affordable handler that packs a lot into the Corvette body.

2.Audi A5 Quattro Coupe

You can be sure of two things about anything spelled Audi, it performs and handles like a charm and its interior is comfortable and business-like. The A5's business is ride and handling and that it does well as the 354-brake-horsepower V-8 under the hood of the A5 gets you into triple-digit trouble very quickly either with the six-speed or the semi-automatic paddle-shifted transaxle. The All-Wheel-Drive A5 holds the road as if there's glue on the wheels, which helps keep you out of trouble. Roadandtrack.com reports a top end of over 155 and we wouldn't doubt it. Right now, it's easily hold a price of right around $42,000 or more.

3.Nissan GT-R

The twin-turbo GT-R is hard to describe, so let's say that unlike the sleek 'Vette and rounded A5, the GT-R is purposeful. It has 485-horsepower headed toward its all-wheel-drive system thanks to twin-turbots. Like the others mentioned here, it has excellent road manners and takes turns and corners as if they don't exist. One thing you notice when you look at it is the huge wheels/brake combination that works in combination with Nissan's version of automatic dynamic stability control to keep you out of trouble. At the moment, pricing is running right around $70,000 for the GT-R.

(Sources: www.roadandtrack.com, www.kbb.com)

4.Jaguar XK/XKR Coupe

Deceptively styled with a 5-liter powerplant under the hood, the 2010 Jaguar XK Coupe means business with a its turbocharged 388-horsepower and ride and handling package that make you think this is another vehicle that's on rails through turns and corners. Things get livelier when you move over to the supercharged version, the XKR that raises the ante 510 horsepower. It is a definite threat to your license, if you don't watch out. One drawback is the smallish rear seat area, but in a sports coupe that's an acceptable tradeoff. Like the other vehicles here, this one holds its value in the $55,000 area very strongly.

5.Porsche 911 Carrera

First introduced 47 years ago, the intervening time has been about tuning and tweaking the same basic design. Indeed, a transplant from 1964 would easily recognize this vehicle and could attempt to drive it, however, this driver would probably find the water-cooled, rear-mounted, 345-horsepower six and quick-shifting six, a handful. Like all things Porsche, this one is holding its value in the $100,000 range easily.

Sources:
www.roadandtrack.com
www.kbb.com
www.edmunds.com