6. Mazda MX-5 Miata
The grandaddy of cute sport cars, the Miata was introduced in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show with a price of $15,000, and it created a sensation: A classic British roadster from the 1960s had been updated, improved, and rendered nearly trouble-free. The Miata has remained in production ever since -- larger, faster, and more expensive -- with its core unchanged. Its cuteness derives from its compact size, light weight, efficient cockpit, and ease of control. The ergonomics are so perfect and the manual transmission so slick that slipping behind the wheel makes you feel like Stirling Moss.
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Last updated May 19 2011: 8:16 AM ET
