Hurry Honey, RUN!

Make: Chevy

Model: HHR

Lowdown: If I were trying to design the woody of the present, I would have at least put some wood on it, just sayin'. This, "passenger automobile" looks more like a schnauzer's face than anything people with dignity should ever be seen in. The bulbous front fenders remind me of my grandfather's armchair, not of hitting the beach. No, you have to pay $465 for a roof rack if you want to do that. One semi-mediocre thing about this car is that you can have a 260 HP engine put in as an option, which will at least get you out of the way of other people on the highway, or help you get away faster when the fashionistas start laughing at you. The HHR is also available in a rapist-van version with the back windows paneled up, if the extra privacy is worth $310.

Verdict: Fugly!

The Fastest of the Fugly

Make: Gumpert

Model: Apollo

Lowdown: Although the looks of this car could leave you wanting more, the way in which this beast handles will leave your face (which will be ripped off sideways) asking for less. The engineers of this car are so intent on getting every detail perfect that they won't even let you move your seat forward or backward, because that will mess with their perfect weight distribution. And although almost every part of this car is adjustable -- the brakes, the suspension, the traction control -- you're best to just leave it alone. The folks at Gumpert (Ugh, what a name!) probably know the best configuration, as this car is unbeatable around a track. The Apollo is also available in three trim levels: Crazy, Mad, and Psychotic at 650, 700, and 800 HP, respectively. With that much power on tap, it probably doesn't really matter what it looks like, as the Apollo will be able to get away from any criticism before it's even been said.

Verdict: Fast!

Scaffolding never went this fast.

Make: Ariel

Model: Atom

Lowdown: Originally conceived as part of a design project by a Coventry University student, this machine is a great piece of engineering. Powered by a 300 hp supercharged Honda engine, the ultralight Atom surges from a standstill to sixty in 2.7 seconds. That's almost as fast as a Bugatti Veyron, which will do so in 2.5 seconds. The Atom may look like a bunch of scaffolding with two seats and an engine strapped on the back -- which won't win much points from the ladies -- but that simplicity is what makes this little monster so good on the road. Also, a base price of $65k for the US version makes face-ripping acceleration and cornering affordable to us all. If you need help convincing the spouse, the second seat can be used to carry groceries, so running errands will become something you'll be begging to do.

Verdict: Fast!

4.7 seconds for $24k

Make: Subaru

Model: Impreza WRX

Lowdown: Heres one example of where racing experience really translates into increased performance on the road. The flat-four turbocharged power plant in this rally driver's dream produces plenty of pull when you put the pedal to the metal. Now what does that mean for us? When that streetrace moves from simply dragging greens to something a little more intense -- The Fast and the Furious, anyone? -- you'll be able to hang with the best of them. All-wheel-drive brings you all the grip you could ever ask for and delivers 0-60 times around 4.7 seconds. That's rediculously fast. A $130k Mercedes sl63 amg does it in 4.5 seconds. The Subaru costs $24k. Wow.

Verdict: Fast!

A little too "everyday"

Make: Toyota

Model: Camry

Lowdown: The fact that it's the best-selling car in America isn't a testiment to its greatness, or it's value for the money, it's just an indicator that it's the most, well - ordinary - car in America. The Camry is at the epitome of unoriginality. It's not special in any way, it's just a car. Now lets apply some simple logic: The Toyota Camry is the most popular car in America. Most American drivers are horrible drivers. Ipso facto, most Camry drivers are horrible drivers. Especially the champagne colored Camry drivers (the car not the people), who always, ALWAYS get in your way. It's not a bad car, unfortunately it's the mediocrity of its owners who have dragged it down where it is now.

Verdict: Fugly!