Warm-Weather Winners // What to drive when the mercury hits `fun'

This is the time of year when Chicago area car buffs beginrolling their classic cars out of garages after those autos have hada long winter's sleep.

Actually, cars of all types are more fun to drive in warmweather. But some autos are especially suited to spring and summermotoring.

These are among the best of the "fun" cars. They includeconvertibles, sports cars and Grand Touring (GT) cars. A fewhigh-performance sedans also fit in the fun-car group.Here are sketches of some of these fun-in-the-sun autos:Acura NSX ($84,000): This highly advanced aluminum sports car isone of the few exotic sports cars that can be driven comfortablydaily.Acura 3.0CL ($25,110): It's slick, fast and comfortable -everything a true GT auto should be.Audi Cabriolet convertible ($34,600): While not fast off theline, it's still a great convertible cruiser.BMW Z3 convertible ($29,425-$35,900): The higher-pricesix-cylinder model is sexier and much quicker than the standardfour-cylinder version.Chevrolet Camaro convertible ($21,770): There's little rear-seatspace, but this car looks great and performs well even with the base200-horsepower V-6.Chevrolet Cavalier convertible ($17,765): It combines smoothstyling and economical operation with driving kicks.Chevrolet Corvette ($37,495): This totally revamped 172-m.p.h.creation looks zoomy and performs as well as cars that cost more thantwice its price.Chrysler Sebring convertible ($20,150): It's sleek, reasonablyfast and has an exceptionally roomy back seat.Dodge Viper GTS ($66,000): Totally outrageous and enormouslyseductive, the GTS coupe is the closest you'll get to a race car forthe street.Eagle Talon TSi AWD ($20,271): Few summer cars offer the sizzlefor the dollar of this Illinois-built coupe. It's got everythingfrom a swoopy body and supercharged engine to four-wheel drive, whichenhances cornering ability.Ford Mustang convertible ($20,755): This American icon isn'tespecially fast when equipped with the base 150-horsepower V-6, butis a great summer cruiser.Ford Probe GT ($16,780): The dual-overhead-camshaft V-6 issweet, and steering and handling are exceptionally sharp. However,the ride is firm and the power-sapping automatic transmission shouldbe avoided.Ford Taurus SHO ($26,460): A special high-performance V-8 andsport suspension make the SHO sedan a solid summmer driving funmodel. The fact that it's a practical four-door is a bonus.Honda del Sol ($15,080): A light, removable top allows open-airdriving fun with this quick, nimble little car.Hyundai Tiburon ($13,499-$14,899): Derived from an auto showconcept car, the sleek Tiburon is a surprisingly quick, good-handlingauto that shows the enormous progress Hyundai is making. Thesmoother, higher-line FX model is the one to get.Jaguar XK8 ($64,900-$69,900): The convertible carries thehighest price, but the coupe looks prettier. Both models aremotivated by a sensational V-8 - Jaguar's first - and deliver greatride and handling. Too bad there's no manual transmission offered.Mazda Miata convertible ($19,125): The price keeps creeping up,but the Miata remains the best all-around sports car for the money.Few autos are more fun to drive, although not much room is offered.Mercedes-Benz SLK ($39,700): This desirable new "baby" Mercedestwo-seater has a retractable hardtop and a potent superchargedengine. Too bad it doesn't offer a manual transmission, but demandfar outstrips supply.Nissan 240SX ($18,359): It offers the nice balance of arear-wheel-drive sports car, along with elegant styling and strongperformance.Pontiac Grand Prix GT ($19,809): This sedan offers the samedriving fun as many coupes mentioned here, especially when equippedwith the supercharged V-6. It has virtually the same styling as theGrand Prix coupe.Pontiac Firebird Trans Am ($22,814): The legendary Trans Amcoupe still is one of the best GT cars around. Alas, the convertibleversion is awfully pricey, at $28,374.Porsche Boxster ($39,980): This all-new Porsche looks slinky andhas outstanding performance. It's a totally serious "driver's car"that resembles the classic, 1950s Porsche race cars. But finding onefor a reasonable price is said to be virtually impossible.Saturn SC2 ($13,695): This lively, economical, fun-to-drivecoupe has new rakish styling, no-rust body panels and sky-highcustomer-satisfaction ratings.Toyota Paseo convertible ($16,728): Mostly, this car is cute.But the Paseo soft top also is pleasant, durable and just the thingfor that early morning run to the beach or late-night trip to thelocal drive-in.