So I found myself needing to make a quick trip down to SFO over our Canadian long weekend, and with a few days to kill once I got there, what better way to spend some time than cruising the Pacific Coast Highway to Pismo Beach (with a night in Monterey) and back? An Audi or an Infiniti seemed somewhat...inappropriate, and a convertible Corvette was available. As a car guy, naturally I opted for the latter and this is what I found:

Power: It probably goes without saying that with 400hp and 400 ft/lbs of torque on tap from the aluminum 6.0L V8, few people will be left wanting for more ponies under the hood. If anything, I wish the exhaust note were more assertive; it remains relatively low-key until you seriously goose it - at which point all kinds of hilarity breaks loose. Fuel economy was stellar for a car of this calibre; according to the trip computer (which I had reset upon pickup), I managed 24.7 MPG over approximately 380 miles with a mix of freeway, city and somewhat, uh, enthusiastic coastal-road driving. Yes, one can disable the traction control via a button below the shifter, if so inclined.

Ride/Handling: I was honestly surprised here. The Corvette's suspension was downright cushy and compliant, with little in the way of harshness. Anyone worried about a jarring ride need not be concerned, and it's plainly obvious that GM's engineers clearly understood the car's market (aged 45+ and possibly suffering from a mid-life crisis) when they finalized the tuning. Sadly, the steering is numb and devoid of any real feedback; turn-in is lazy but any understeer - and it is apparent - can be rectified with a quick poke of the throttle. This is not exactly a track car, but then that's a role better suited to the Chevy's own Corvette Z06, and probably not a rental car. I'm fairly certain that Hertz wouldn't appreciate frequent tail-out antics anyway.

Interior: If you've spent your life driving modern Japanese or German vehicles, you'll likely be disappointed with the Corvette's appointments. In terms of material quality and fit and finish, I'd put the 'vette on par with, say, a Hyundai Sonata. The steering wheel was apparently lifted intact from a $17,000 Pontiac G6 and the seats, while widely adjustable and comfortable enough over long trips, are not particularly supportive and the leather was obviously of the low-grade variety. They also manage to flex to an embarrassing degree, so expect some flopping about when you or your passenger climb in. Also, the dashboard and door panels may as well have been constructed of chalkboard they marked up so easily. Chevrolet promises a higher quality, upgraded interior for 2008, and it can't come a moment too soon. On the positive side, the gauges are clear, attractive and legible, and the various switchgear is reasonably well laid out. Don't expect much in the way of storage space; you're pretty much limited to a smallish glove box, an inch-deep storage bin underneath the armrest, and perhaps room for a few bottles of water behind the headrests. The trunk handily swallowed two 22" suitcases and a small tote bag. The Bose stereo (with MP3 capability) proved to be merely adequate, but then it is Bose.

Features: My Ferrar...er, "Victory" red example was equipped with the 3LT package, which includes such niceties as a fully power-actuated top and tonneau cover, power heated seats for both the driver and passenger, and an excellent head-up display. The HUD was particularly useful when utilizing the six-speed automatic's manual mode - which included paddle shifters fixed to the steering wheel - as you don't need to take your eyes off the road in order to look down to see what gear you happen to be in. The electronic, touch-sensitive switches to open the doors and the now-ubiquitous push-to-start keyless ignition were a tad finicky at times and seemed a bit like technology for the sake of technology, but they worked well enough for the most part.

Value: Eventually, I always wind up asking myself if I would actually buy a copy of any given rental car after I've spent a couple of days and a few hundred miles behind the wheel. In this case, well...no, probably not. But I'd absolutely rent one again from Hertz. There are few better ways of blowing the cobwebs out of your head. Why anyone would opt for the disclaimer-laden and pricier Shelby GTH convertible, I have no idea. My contract included unlimited mileage, Hertz gives you 75 miles/day on the GTH yet the Corvette is clearly superior in every way save for seating and luggage capacity. Go figure.

The Good: Power. Oh, and the power. Did I mention the power? Plus, the car is just plain nice to look at and considering how much I whined about the interior, the exterior finish was terrific. Expect a lot of honks and waves from fellow Corvette drivers.

The Bad: A shiny-red 'vette is bound to attract all kinds of unwanted attention, particularly from the law-enforcement variety. Drive accordingly, or at least pick a more discrete color. Being stuck behind left-lane dawdlers so commonly encountered on California freeways will eventually become an exercise in frustration.

The Ugly: Oh God. NeverLost? I must have received a car with a buggy example, as I've never encountered a navigation system as schizophrenic as this one proved to be. I'm pretty certain I didn't drive though any part of the Pacific ocean while on the freeway, or through anyone's house while cruising through a random neighborhood, yet the map insisted still insisted I had. Screw this thing.