Most people talk about how fast Corvettes are. I like to boast about the fantastic gas mileage I get. Our test Corvette roadster averaged 28.9 mpg on the highway. That's incredible economy for a 400 horsepower supercar.

The high mileage figures aren't a testimony to my balloon foot driving skills; they're a tribute to modern technology. You can have your pavement-shredding acceleration and still get excellent fuel economy. The usually optimistic EPA rates the Corvette with 6-speed manual transmission at 18-city/28-highway. The city number is doable as long as you don't leave every traffic light like it was a dragstrip starting line.

A couple of things help make the Corvette so efficient. The six-speed manual transmission (very smooth and easy to use) allows the car to loaf along at 1300 to 1400 rpm at above posted limits. The fantastic 6-liter 400 horsepower V-8 has an equally amazing 400 lb-ft. of torque. That tremendous torque means the engine is barely working at highway cruising speeds. That same torque plasters you to the seatback when the accelerator is mashed.

The Corvette convertible is a great everyday car as long as its two-person capacity suits your needs. It's not a good car for hauling supplies from the home improvement center, but it's perfectly good for grocery shopping. We also spent a week in the Corvette coupe and its hatchback design allowed us to haul much more stuff. We prefer the coupe for Pacific Northwest weather conditions although the roadster's soft top was very snug and tight.

We drove the Corvette roadster over an extended holiday weekend. We encountered all kinds of driving conditions: stop-and-go traffic, open highways, twisty country back roads, short around-town errand trips, dry sunny roads, and pouring down rainy roads. The Corvette handled all situations with ease.

Going away for a long weekend means packing a substantial amount of clothing, gear, and foodstuffs. A little discretion was required, but we fit everything in the shallow trunk. While the trunk space is quite good, interior storage areas are limited. Door bins are small and the console bin is OK for a pack of gum. There is some space behind the seats, but access isn't easy.

Comfort-wise the interior is excellent. The multi-adjustable leather seats are very supportive and comfortable for extended driving periods. The thick steering wheel is great. Instrumentation is excellent and the heads up display is a wonderful feature.

Soft top quality was very good; the blind spot is small. Wind noise and buffeting were minimal with the top down. It was easy to hold a conversation and your hair doesn't get all windblown.

Outstanding handling is a Corvette trademark. The car handles like it's on rails. The chassis, monster tires and excellent brakes help average people drive well beyond their normal skill levels.

The Chevy Corvette roadster is an amazing car. It's an absolute road-racing rocket, but it's also a mild-mannered everyday driver. It gets great gas mileage, hauls a reasonable amount of stuff, it's very comfortable, it looks fantastic, and it's just an all-around fun car to drive.

Whines: Our test car had the optional $1995 power top. It worked fine, but seemed a bit high for such a small, basic top. We'd like more interior storage space.

 Bottom Line: The Corvette roadster and coupe are incredible performers that are also amazingly practical. Their excellent value is only exceeded by their fantastic fun factor.