Top 10 Cars for Dads

I know, I know -- naming the Corvette as one of the Best Cars for Dads is a bit of a cliché, but there's a reason clichés become clichés, and that's because they're true. I've driven plenty of cars that are faster and more agile than the Corvette, but nothing has dampened my enthusiasm for this American icon. Even the least-expensive version, the LS3, is fast, fun, and reasonably affordable. But if you can afford more Corvette, the Z06's extra speed and better handling make it worth the extra cash, while the ZR1 is one of the world's great sports cars and the ultimate reward for the toils of fatherhood.

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Chevrolet Corvette LS3 test drive
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 test drive

Perhaps the dad in your life deserves a Mercedes S-Class or a Lexus LS460, but $85,000 is a little out of your budget. The Hyundai Genesis offers most of what makes these cars so great -- a smooth, quiet ride, leather-lined interior, V8 power and a killer stereo -- but you can get a Genesis Sedan with all the trimmings for 42 grand, about what you'd pay for a decently-equipped Chevy Tahoe (and the Genesis provides just as much passenger space). If the idea that a Hyundai can be this good seems a little far-fetched, don't take my word for it -- go test drive one. You're bound to be impressed.

Read more: 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan test drive

I don't really need to explain this one, do I?

Read more: 2010 Ford Mustang GT test drive

There's no question in my mind that the Infiniti G was designed by men with children. On the outside, it's a chic, sensible, luxury-oriented family car, complete with four doors and a decent trunk. Nothing for the domestic partner to disapprove of here, right? Under the skin, however, the G37 is every high-tech Japanese sports car we dreamed of as kids. Infiniti is a division of Nissan, and the blood of the 370Z sports car courses through the G37's veins: It's brutally fast and viciously fun to drive.

Read more: Infiniti G37 test drive

"Excess" and "fatherhood" are two concepts that just seem to go really well together. Whether it's a little too much lighter fluid on the barbecue or a little too much steak sauce on the burgers, there's something about being a dad that makes one realize that more is better. And no car illustrates the Power of More than the Lexus IS-F. The formula: Start with a regular Lexus IS -- a bit of a mommymobile, frankly -- then add more cylinders, more power, more noise, and lots more attitude. What do you get? An ode to over-the-top -- and a fantastic car for Dad.

Read more: Lexus IS F test drive

Buying a mid-size sedan doesn't imply that your reproductive days are over. Yes, the Mazda6 is roomy, practical and comfortable -- but it's also sports-car-fun to drive, especially if you opt for the four-cylinder engine and manual transmission. It's got a big back seat to accommodate growing kids, a big trunk to accommodate family vacations, and a big option list to accommodate parents who have acquired (or would like to acquire) a taste for the finer things. The Mazda6 is my favorite mid-size sedan, and I say that as a writer as well as a dad.

Read more: Mazda6 test drive and review

What if Dad wants a Corvette, but still has to haul the kids around? The answer is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Think of it as a Harley-Davidson with four wheels and four doors: Insanely fast, insanely loud and insanely fun. And, surprise surprise, it's not insanely expensive: $57,175, only about seven grand more than a Corvette (and pretty reasonable for a 451 horsepower German muscle car). Buy one of these and you'll be laughing all the way to day care.

Read more: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG test drive and review

For the record, I have dismissed the 2009 Maxima for being of questionable relevance in today's market -- but that doesn't stop it from being a fantastic fathermobile. The Maxima strikes a nice balance between sensible family sedans and hard-drivin' sports sedans -- it's just a little bigger, a little more powerful, and a little more enjoyable to drive than it needs to be, while still remaining reasonably affordable, practical and efficient. It's a perfect solution for dads trying to strike a balance between what they want and what they need.

Read more: Nissan Maxima test drive and review

Let's say Mom controls the purse strings, and let's say Mom won't let Dad spend extra dough on something fast and cool... like, say, a Dodge Challenger SRT8. No worries, mate -- the Pontiac G8 GT delivers 361 grin-inducing horsepower for right around $32,000, about the same price as a well-equipped Toyota Camry or your average family-friendly-but-boring-as-whale-poop SUV. If you can stretch a bit more, the $40,000 G8 GXP has a Corvette-like 402 hp and a slick stick-shift. And who says the G8 isn't family friendly? It's got four doors, a roomy cabin, and a big trunk, and if you can keep the accelerator off of the floor, it'll actually return halfway-decent fuel economy.

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Pontiac G8 GXP test drive
Pontiac G8 GT test drive

I admit it -- I used to look down on 911 drivers as a bunch of leather-backed-glove-wearing egomaniacs. But then Porsche arranged for me to spend some quality time with a 911, and I saw the light. The 911 really is something special. It turns every trip, even the quickest, most mundane run to the corner store, into a drive. Yes, the 911 is expensive -- really, really expensive -- but I can think of few better rewards for the trials and tribulations of fatherhood. It even accommodates two small children in the back seat -- and that's all the practicality we need, right, fellow dads?

Read more: Porsche 911 Carrera test drive and review