Clunkers for Camaros?

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Some of us think the ideal ‘green’ car is a Mustang Bullitt. So what’s in Cash for Clunkers, presuming it continues, for us? The new car one can purchase through the program must get a combined 22 miles per gallon. Sadly, several cars that really cook miss the minimum by a lousy 1 mpg. Among them: the Nissan 370Z, Subaru WRX and Hyundai Genesis Coupe V-6 (auto). Those each get 21 mpg. Talk about heartbreaking near-misses.

But there are still some smokers that qualify.

These make the podium because they can get from zero to 60 on either side of six seconds and have sports car handling and braking (performance figures are from Edmunds.com, fuel economy is from the EPA). Guess what? All are from GM.

1) Chevy Camaro (V-6, automatic)

Horsepower/torque(ft-lbs): 304/273

0-60: 6.1 seconds

MPG: 22

2) Chevy Cobalt SS

Horsepower/torque: 260/260

0-60: 5.8 seconds

MPG: 25

3) Pontiac Solstice GXP/Saturn Sky

Horsepower/torque: 260/260

0-60: 5.5 seconds

MPG: 23

Runners-up, which are down on power a bit but still sweet to drive (not in any particular order):

4) Hyundai Genesis Coupe (4 cyl, turbo):

Horsepower/torque: 210/223

0-60: 6.9

MPG: 24

5) Volkswagen GTI:

Horsepower/torque: 210/207

0-60: N/A (it’s a new model, the old one was 7ish)

MPG: 25

6) Honda Civic Si:

Horsepower/torque: 197/139

0-60: 7.1

MPG: 24

7) Mini Cooper S:

Horsepower/torque: 172/177

0-60: 6.9

MPG: 29

8) Volvo C30:

Horesepower/torque: 227/236

0-60: 6.6

MPG: 24

Some pricier cars like the Audi A4 and the Nissan Maxima aren’t here because I figured if you’re shopping for those models, you’re less likely to own a clunker worth under $3,500. If you have to ask why the powerful V-6 versions of the Camry, Altima and Mazda6 aren’t here, this isn’t a post for you. Don’t accuse me of being biased against roomy sedans -- one of my cars is a Toyota Avalon -- this list is of cars that give you reasons to turn the stability control off.

--Peter Y. Hong