Auto News 5

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

Five years after the current Mercedes-Benz CL coupe made its debut, the big two-door has gone in for some minor cosmetic surgery, and a heart transplant. Although their model designations have not changed, the CL550 and CL63 AMG both have new, smaller V-8 engines, but never fear, plutocrats, they're nonetheless significantly more powerful than their predecessors, thanks to the miracle of turbocharging.