Aston Martin Vantage

How it looks when you see on the street: Like a party! The Vantage belts out carefree fun in the best kind of sports car way. You don’t have to know the beauty of the Aston brand to ogle over it — that sultry form speaks for itself.

How it makes you feel when you get in: It’s a snug fit, but when that top is open, the open-air Vantage point is everything. The world looks bright from the inside looking out.

How it drives: Performance on the Vantage is the definition of verve. It’s aggressive, but smooth.It’s easy to roar past folks on the track or everyday highway. It’s not intimidating to drive, despite its strong set of wheels.

Space for people and things: Who needs things? There’s room for very little, because an already small car has to make room to stow the retractable roof. However, it does pass the golf club test — big enough for a set of golf clubs, or a good-size handbag.

Best Features: The whole package? It’s such a delight to look at, and drive.

What makes it stand out: It’s an Aston convertible —the look is enticing, but before you see it you, hear the growl of its V8 engine. Its only current lag in the ultra-fancy-sport car category is that it lacks Apple CarPlay in this model year.

How much does it cost: The base price is $147,000, but optioned up our test car was almost $200,000, due to expensive carbon fiber add-ons, a lightweight material that improves performance. Extra leather, “in-car tech” and a premium audio system bump up the price, too.