A host of automobiles out there certainly qualify as sports cars.

When you mention "sports car," many people think of two-seat, two-door roadsters. There are not as many as you'd think, which may come as a shock.

Nowadays, when you say "sports car," you need to broaden your definition to include two-door coupes, four-door sedans and even a few station wagons. And your new sports car is less and less likely to have a V-8 engine under the hood. It's far more likely instead that you'll have a four- or six-cylinder engine that will have such features as turbo-charging, supercharging, direct fuel injection and/or a host of other technologies.

And don't think you'll miss that V-8 -- these smaller engines will knock you clean into your seat when you hit the gas, and they will beat the pants off many V-8s as well.

Another recent change: the looming demise of manual transmissions that have clutch pedals. More and more car companies, including BMW, Ferarri, and others are moving to manual transmissions without clutch pedals that are shifted via paddles -- and they also can be driven in the same manner as a good automatic transmission equipped car.

So what should you look for in your next sports car?

First, think what you really need. You may want to consider a car that seats more than two people for all those times when you'll have guests with you. These days, sedans can be as sexy as hardtops or convertibles.

You doubt that? Think BMW M3, Cadillac CTS-V, Mitsubishi EVO and Subaru WRX-STi. Believe me, you won't lose any style points driving any one of these or a number of others as well.

Second, think about insurance costs.

Yes, I know.

It's no fun to talk about the practical stuff when good times await behind the wheel of your favorite sportster. But the insurance companies are fully aware what these cars are all about -- high performance, and they will charge you accordingly.

Think also about upkeep and repairs. All those highly evolved engines can be quite high-strung, and even the smallest of problems can result in big bills if you're not careful. And you won't realize that until the warranty has expired and you then have to pay the repair freight.

My suggestion? Do some research on repair costs for these cars before you buy, or at least look for a car club around Pittsburgh that focuses on your particular car and talk to members. As a rule, domestic and Japanese sports cars, sports sedans and coupes cost a lot less to maintain and keep in good repair over the years.

But once you've done your homework, and you're thinking about the practical side of buying a sports car, you're ready to head out and take a look around.

If you want to make your sports car experience that much more enjoyable, check out the many local owners clubs and sports car groups in the Pittsburgh area. It's a neat way to compare notes, swap stories, get tips on ownership, upkeep, repair and how to get the most out of your pride and joy.

It's also a great way to meet nice people and see interesting places during rallies and group events.

Most car companies do not have sports cars and fast models in their press fleets until midsummer, so since this section is hitting the streets before many of these cars hit the press fleets, PG On Wheels has not tested most of them. And because our policy is not to recommend something we haven't driven, we'll provide you a list of cars you may want to consider and let you have all the fun of comparing them.

Here's a partial list of models you'll want to consider, with price or price range and mileages:

Coupes:

BMW 6 Series, $76,375 to $105,875, 12/18 to 17/25 mpg

BMW 1 Series, $29,375 to $39,875, 17-19/25-28

Mini Cooper, $18,700 to $26,050, 26-27/33-36

Ford Mustang, $19,995 to $47,500, 14-17/20-26

Hyundai Tiburon, $17,495 to $22,845, 16-20/24-28

Jaguar XK, $75,500 to $104,700 (includes convertible models), 15-16/23-25

Nissan 350Z, $36,175 to $41,875, 17-18/24-25

Porsche 911, $74,360 to $192,560 (Prices include convertibles and several limited edition models), 16-18/23-26

Porsche Cayman, $50,260 to $70,760, 18-20/26-29

Sedans:

Cadillac STS-V, $77,290, 13/19

Lexus IS-F, $60,000, 16/23

Mitsubishi Evolution, $33,640 and up, 19/27

Subaru WRX STi, $35,640,17-20/23-27

Roadsters:

BMW Z4, $37,175 to $52,875, 15-19/22-28

Chevrolet Corvette, $45,995 to $100,000 14-18/18-24

Dodge Viper, $87,040 to $87,790

Honda S2000, $34,935 to $36,935, 15/20

Mazda MX-5, $22,180 to $28,455, 20-22/27-28

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, $96,075 to $187,775, 11-14/18-21

Porsche Boxster, $46,660 to $65,760, 18-20/26-29