Just for Kicks Every car you buy doesn't have to go to work with you.

Get rid of that formal business sedan on weekends and jump intosomething fun. Three top choices in three price ranges: BMW'sMini Cooper (below), Volkswagen's Cabrio GLX and the Lexus SC430. Maneuvering in downtown traffic in these three head-turning,easy-to-park machines is a snap, and taking them on the open roadclears away those workday cobwebs.

The $18,000 Mini, arriving from the United Kingdom in March, isthe 2002 version of the cute little car that stole everyone'sheart back in the 1960s. Retaining its cheerful spirit and missionof fitting four people as comfortably in a compact as possible, thenew Mini is much more powerful, with 115 horsepower, and has alarger interior. A supercharged version provides 165 horsepower foran extra $3,000.

Weekend warriors who insist on having the wind in their hair canopt for the $22,300 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX. This convertible has apower-operated padded top and a defoggable rear glass window.Coming loaded with ABS brakes, remote locks, side-impact airbagsand a CD player, the Cabrio gets 31 mpg.

So you want performance and the breeze tickling your ears? Theelegant $59,000 SC 430 (above, left) fits the bill. This brand-new,stunningly styled luxury coupe is Lexus' first convertible andhas all the features its price tag warrants, including aretractable hardtop. What's kicky about it? The 300-horsepowerV8 engine you'll find under the hood.

Got the Brights On?

Need a lift? Buy a yellow car. Ford says optimistic lemon,buttercup and saffron are the hottest new vehicle colors this year.For more conservative buyers, rich shades of navy or cool silveryblue are the next best thing. In three to four years, we'll begoing even bolder: Ford predicts orange will be the hot carcolor.

Editor and consultant Jill Amadio has been reporting on theautomotive industry for 24 years.

Contact Sources

• Fordwww.ford.com
• Lexus
  www.toyota.com
• Volkswagen
  www.vw.com