Auto News 5

As editor-in-chief of the vintage-car site www.bringatrailer.com, Randy Nonnenberg helps car guys start their day in an unproductive way with his daily morning e-mail.

Desire isn't the only factor that dictates the cars we own
Our most vivid, gasoline-fueled dreams are often sidetracked by more practical realities-financial, familial, and otherwise. Take heart, though, because there has never been a better selection of prodigious yet pragmatic performers. To suggest the way an enthusiast might ascend the automotive ladder in life, from his (or her) twenties to his thirties to his forties, we gathered three pairs of cars with increasing price tags and increasing capabilities. Then we turned the keys over to a gearhead who fits the target demographic and is ready to climb the ladder.

Any mention of baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie zips the mind straight to Chevrolet. But because these all-American icons lose their flavor on the trip across the Atlantic, some translation is necessary for continental consumption. On the eve of this year's Paris Motor Show press day, Chevy expressed its spirit through couture, canines, and classic cars.

Months in fleet: Eleven
Miles to date: 35,145