There are cars that are easy to love, at least under the right circumstances. On a sunny day, with the top down, few automobiles are as enjoyable as a light and nimble convertible; in knee-deep snow, a capable SUV can deliver peace of mind (and occasionally, too much confidence); and when one just has to punctuate a mood with parallel strips of melted rubber on asphalt, only a muscle car will do. Sometimes, however, attraction isn't easily explained - or easily dissuaded.

In the interest of full disclosure, I've always had a thing for late third-generation Corvettes, yet I suspect any stock example will leave me disappointed, wanting more power and better handling. As sports cars go, they're too heavy to be nimble, perhaps a forgivable sin if ample power was on tap. Thanks to the emission regulations of the day, it wasn't, and in 1980, the last year the third-gen Corvette was available with a manual transmission and the L82 V-8, output was 230 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Sure, the aftermarket provides plenty of parts to make this era of Corvette faster and better-handling, but later model Corvettes can provide a better starting point for less money and effort.

What floats your boats fuels your car?